Cooks, Restaurant salary in Knoxville, TN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $36,520 a year ($17.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,220 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 9.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,930, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,860 | $13.39 |
| 25th percentile | $30,630 | $14.73 |
| Median | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 75th percentile | $38,560 | $18.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Average (mean) | $35,930 | $17.28 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,043.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,521.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,404.62 |
| Weekly | $702.31 |
| Hourly | $17.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,170 | 10,420 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 340 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 780 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 1,020 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $36,520 a year, or $17.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $45,220 a year. The top 25% earn $38,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,860 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,630 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Knoxville, TN?
About 3,820 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.