Tennessee employs 12,000 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria professionals, above the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Tennessee employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06
The location quotient (LQ) of 1.4 indicates that Tennessee has a higher-than-average concentration of Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.
Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.
The average annual salary for a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Tennessee is $31,160. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
Tennessee employs approximately 12,000 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks Tennessee among the top states nationwide.
Yes — Tennessee has above-average concentration of Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs (LQ: 1.4). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Tennessee is $31160/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.
The top state for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria employment is Texas with 39,230 jobs.
Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (SOC 352012) in Tennessee.