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What does a Chefs and Head Cooks salary really buy you in Tennessee?
Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Chefs and Head Cooks earning $69,810 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,045 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $45,410 | $49,466 | +$4,056 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $57,470 | $62,603 | +$5,133 |
| Median (P50) | $69,810 | $76,045 | +$6,235 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $81,900 | $89,215 | +$7,315 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,860 | $107,690 | +$8,830 |
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee earns $69,810 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $76,045 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Chefs and Head Cooks, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $69,810 median salary translates to $76,046 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Chefs and Head Cooks.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Chefs and Head Cooks, Tennessee places #5 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Chefs and Head Cooks salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #5 out of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Chefs and Head Cooks take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee earns a median salary of $69,810 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $76,045 — a +8.9% difference.
Tennessee's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Tennessee is 91.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee: $69,810 x (100 / 91.8) = $76,045. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee enjoys 8.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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