Cooks, All Other salary in Knoxville, TN
Cooks, All Other in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $35,120 a year ($16.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,600 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,690. Pay here is 4% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $36,440. There are 0.43 cooks, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,220, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, all other in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,890 | $10.04 |
| 25th percentile | $21,660 | $10.41 |
| Median | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| 75th percentile | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Average (mean) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
Half of cooks, all other 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 | $2,926.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,463.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,350.77 |
| Weekly | $675.38 |
| Hourly | $16.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,950 | n/a |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,990 | 110 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,820 | 40 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $33,220 | 700 |
| Cleveland, TN | $20,420 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $69,570 |
| Washington | $52,510 |
| Nevada | $51,220 |
| New Jersey | $46,080 |
| Indiana | $44,290 |
| North Dakota | $44,190 |
| Missouri | $43,990 |
| Colorado | $43,490 |
| New York | $43,000 |
| Georgia | $42,960 |
See Cooks, All Other pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
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 35-2019. 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 cooks, all other make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for cooks, all other in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $35,120 a year, or $16.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, all other make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, all other in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $38,600 a year. The top 25% earn $36,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, all other in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, all other earn $21,660 or less.
How many cooks, all other work in Knoxville, TN?
About 180 cooks, all other are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.