Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Knoxville, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Knoxville, TN

Median annual salary $26,760 -11.3% vs national
Median hourly $12.86
10th percentile $20,670
90th percentile $36,740
Employed locally 2,890
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Knoxville, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,670
    25th
    $24,960
    50th (median)
    $26,760
    75th
    $28,460
    90th
    $36,740

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 38% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 62% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $31,650
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $28,290
    Morristown, TN $27,370
    Jackson, TN $27,250
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $26,680
    Johnson City, TN $26,660

    Related occupations in Knoxville, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,680
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,100
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,620
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,630
    Food Preparation Workers $30,920
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $29,310

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Knoxville?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Knoxville, TN is $12.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.68 or more per hour.

    Is Knoxville above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Knoxville, TN is 11.3% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Knoxville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $20,670 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,960.