This page captures the Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria labor market inside Tennessee using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $35,570 ($17.10/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 10,680 workers in this SOC code (35-2012). Relative to the national median of $37,450, Tennessee pays 5% below — a gap that often tracks with cost-of-living differentials, weaker industry concentration, or a looser local labor market.

Within Tennessee, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $27,830, the 25th earns $30,150, the 75th reaches $38,860, and the 90th hits $45,430 — meaning top earners in this state make roughly 1.6× what entry-level workers earn. These bands reflect differences in years of experience, credential level, employer size, and whether the role sits in a public, private, or nonprofit setting — not just raw negotiating leverage.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific metro area within Tennessee where you plan to work — metros inside the same state can vary by 20-40% in median pay depending on whether a specialized employer cluster sits there (think tech in Austin versus Houston, or finance in Charlotte versus Asheville). Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. And remember that BLS wage data excludes health benefits, retirement contributions, overtime, stock compensation, and bonuses that can represent 20-40% of total compensation — especially for roles where Tennessee-based employers compete for scarce talent.