How much does a cook make in Knoxville?
$27,580a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $13.26 an hour or $2,298 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.26
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 216 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 2,120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,250Median: $27,580Highest 10%: $36,780
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,250 | $10.22 | |
| 25th | $26,230 | $12.61 | |
| Median | $27,580 | $13.26 | |
| 75th | $33,700 | $16.20 | |
| 90th | $36,780 | $17.68 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Nashville, TN | $34,210 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 |
| Memphis, TN | $27,230 |
| Kingsport, TN | $26,930 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $26,890 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
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 |
| Cook | $30,210 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,080 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Knoxville?
The median hourly pay in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $13.26 ($27,580 a year).
Do cooks make more in Knoxville than the national average?
No: $27,580 against $30,890 nationally, 11% less.
How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $28,330, so Knoxville pays 3% less.
Where does Knoxville rank for cook pay?
216 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,780 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.