How much does a food server make in Knoxville?
$29,100a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $13.99 an hour or $2,425 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.99
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 292 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 620
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,790Median: $29,100Highest 10%: $36,660
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,790 | $10.96 | |
| 25th | $28,340 | $13.63 | |
| Median | $29,100 | $13.99 | |
| 75th | $33,350 | $16.03 | |
| 90th | $36,660 | $17.63 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Nashville, TN | $33,830 |
| Memphis, TN | $31,080 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $30,740 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,430 |
| Jackson, TN | $27,950 |
| Clarksville, TN | $27,510 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,050 |
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 food server make an hour in Knoxville?
The median hourly pay in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $13.99 ($29,100 a year).
Do food servers make more in Knoxville than the national average?
No: $29,100 against $35,360 nationally, 18% less.
How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $30,670, so Knoxville pays 5% less.
Where does Knoxville rank for food server pay?
292 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,790 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,660 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.