Cooks, Short Order salary in Knoxville, TN
Cooks, Short Order in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $30,210 a year ($14.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,710 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $30,210. There are 0.76 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,240 | $10.69 |
| 25th percentile | $25,710 | $12.36 |
| Median | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| 75th percentile | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Average (mean) | $30,880 | $14.85 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,517.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,258.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,161.92 |
| Weekly | $580.96 |
| Hourly | $14.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,830 | 600 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,950 | 200 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $29,880 | 590 |
| Johnson City, TN | $29,460 | 80 |
| Cleveland, TN | $28,660 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $30,210 a year, or $14.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $37,710 a year. The top 25% earn $36,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,240 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $25,710 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Knoxville, TN?
About 320 cooks, short order are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.