Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chattanooga, TN-GA

Median annual salary $35,220 -4.4% vs national
Median hourly $16.94
10th percentile $25,500
90th percentile $42,510
Employed locally 2,650
National median $36,830

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,500
    25th
    $28,960
    50th (median)
    $35,220
    75th
    $37,330
    90th
    $42,510

    Chattanooga economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,666 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $37,440
    Knoxville, TN $35,630
    Jackson, TN $34,670
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $34,560
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $33,930
    Morristown, TN $33,060

    Related occupations in Chattanooga, TN-GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,160
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,210
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,820
    Food Preparation Workers $27,360
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,680
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $27,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Chattanooga?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $16.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.35 or more per hour.

    Is Chattanooga above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 4.4% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Chattanooga?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $25,500 per year in Chattanooga, TN-GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,960.