Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Nashville, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Median annual salary $31,650 +4.9% vs national
Median hourly $15.22
10th percentile $21,640
90th percentile $37,840
Employed locally 5,310
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Nashville, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,640
    25th
    $27,680
    50th (median)
    $31,650
    75th
    $36,210
    90th
    $37,840

    Nashville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,499 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 38% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 62% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $28,290
    Morristown, TN $27,370
    Jackson, TN $27,250
    Knoxville, TN $26,760
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $26,680
    Johnson City, TN $26,660

    Related occupations in Nashville, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,460
    Waiters and Waitresses $30,300
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,440
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,360
    Food Preparation Workers $32,770
    Bartenders $23,110

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Nashville?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Nashville, TN is $15.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.63 or more per hour.

    Is Nashville above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Nashville, TN is 4.9% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Nashville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $21,640 per year in Nashville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,680.