How much does a cook make in Knoxville?
$35,150a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $16.90 an hour or $2,929 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.90
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 268 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 970
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,880Median: $35,150Highest 10%: $43,370
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,880 | $12.92 | |
| 25th | $29,530 | $14.20 | |
| Median | $35,150 | $16.90 | |
| 75th | $37,070 | $17.82 | |
| 90th | $43,370 | $20.85 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Nashville, TN | $37,910 |
| Clarksville, TN | $35,570 |
| Kingsport, TN | $35,210 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,110 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $33,410 |
| Memphis, TN | $33,170 |
| Cleveland, TN | $32,220 |
| Johnson City, TN | $31,330 |
| Morristown, TN | $30,080 |
Related jobs in Knoxville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $62,770 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,380 |
| Cook | $36,520 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,970 |
| Cook | $35,120 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 |
| Cook | $30,210 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,080 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 |
| Food Server | $29,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Knoxville?
The median hourly pay in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $16.90 ($35,150 a year).
Do cooks make more in Knoxville than the national average?
No: $35,150 against $37,450 nationally, 6% less.
How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $35,570, so Knoxville pays 1% less.
Where does Knoxville rank for cook pay?
268 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,880 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,370 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.