Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Jackson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,590 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Jackson earn between $50,780 and $80,880.
- $41K10th
- $51K25th
- $69KMedian
- $81K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,370 | $5,614 | $32.39 |
| Median | $69,280 | $5,773 | $33.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,780 | $4,232 | $24.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,880 | $6,740 | $38.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Jackson vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Jackson earn 5% less than the Tennessee average ($70,710) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $67,370 | $69,280 | $40,520 | $89,590 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $70,710 | $69,810 | $45,410 | $98,860 | 3,820 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Jackson
On the average salary of $67,370, a single filer in Jackson takes home about $56,225 a year, or $4,685 a month and $2,162 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Jackson a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jackson area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.5), so the average $67,370 buys what about $78,775 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Jackson ($44,790). A typical home costs $208,153, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Tennessee cities
Jackson ranks 4th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($75,580).
- Nashville$75,580
- Memphis$68,660
- Knoxville$67,690
- Jackson$67,370
- Chattanooga$65,470
- Cleveland$65,210
- Clarksville$62,870
- Johnson City$58,110
- Kingsport$57,730
- Morristown$57,340
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Jackson: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Jackson?
$32.39 an hour on average, and $33.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Jackson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Jackson?
About $56,225 a year ($4,685 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,370. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Jackson than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Jackson, TN (27180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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