How much does a cook make in Knoxville?
$35,120a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $16.88 an hour or $2,927 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.88
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 41 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $20,890Median: $35,120Highest 10%: $38,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,890 | $10.04 | |
| 25th | $21,660 | $10.41 | |
| Median | $35,120 | $16.88 | |
| 75th | $36,230 | $17.42 | |
| 90th | $38,600 | $18.56 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Memphis, TN | $38,950 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $35,990 |
| Nashville, TN | $33,220 |
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 |
| 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 $16.88 ($35,120 a year).
Do cooks make more in Knoxville than the national average?
No: $35,120 against $37,690 nationally, 7% less.
How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $36,440, so Knoxville pays 4% less.
Where does Knoxville rank for cook pay?
41 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $20,890 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,600 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.