Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Cleveland, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cleveland, TN

Median annual salary $32,660 -11.3% vs national
Median hourly $15.70
10th percentile $23,670
90th percentile $38,990
Employed locally 350
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Cleveland, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,670
    25th
    $28,430
    50th (median)
    $32,660
    75th
    $36,250
    90th
    $38,990

    Cleveland economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,490 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
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $35,220
    Jackson, TN $34,670
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $34,560
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $33,930

    Related occupations in Cleveland, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,920
    Waiters and Waitresses$22,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,250
    Food Preparation Workers$25,480
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$23,610
    Cooks, Fast Food$25,920

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Cleveland, TN is $15.70, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.72 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Cleveland, TN is 11.3% 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 Cleveland?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,670 per year in Cleveland, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,430.