Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Knoxville, TN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $62,770 a year ($30.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,050 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 10% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $69,810. There are 1.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $67,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,670 | $20.52 |
| 25th percentile | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| Median | $62,770 | $30.18 |
| 75th percentile | $77,600 | $37.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Average (mean) | $67,690 | $32.54 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,230.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,615.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,414.23 |
| Weekly | $1,207.12 |
| Hourly | $30.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,420 | 1,780 |
| Jackson, TN | $69,280 | 60 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | 540 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | 280 |
| Cleveland, TN | $62,180 | 30 |
| Morristown, TN | $61,290 | 30 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Johnson City, TN | $59,990 | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Bartender | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $62,770 a year, or $30.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $99,050 a year. The top 25% earn $77,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,670 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $53,520 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Knoxville, TN?
About 470 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.