How much does a cook make in Knoxville?
$30,210a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $14.52 an hour or $2,518 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.52
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 149 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,240Median: $30,210Highest 10%: $37,710
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,240 | $10.69 | |
| 25th | $25,710 | $12.36 | |
| Median | $30,210 | $14.52 | |
| 75th | $36,190 | $17.40 | |
| 90th | $37,710 | $18.13 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Nashville, TN | $37,830 |
| Kingsport, TN | $30,510 |
| Clarksville, TN | $30,170 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $29,950 |
| Memphis, TN | $29,880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $29,460 |
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 | $35,150 |
| Cook | $35,120 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 |
| 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 $14.52 ($30,210 a year).
Do cooks make more in Knoxville than the national average?
No: $30,210 against $35,880 nationally, 16% less.
How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $30,210, so Knoxville pays 0% more.
Where does Knoxville rank for cook pay?
149 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,710 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.