Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Kingsport, TN-VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

Median annual salary $31,600 -13.3% vs national
Median hourly $15.19
10th percentile $25,070
90th percentile $39,070
Employed locally 540
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,070
    25th
    $29,090
    50th (median)
    $31,600
    75th
    $38,190
    90th
    $39,070

    Kingsport economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $55,948 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 56% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $36,080
    Jackson, TN $32,010
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $31,870
    Knoxville, TN $31,050
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $30,330
    Clarksville, TN-KY $30,300

    Related occupations in Kingsport, TN-VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,840
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,100
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,670
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,930
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,290
    Food Preparation Workers $28,030

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Kingsport?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Kingsport, TN-VA is $15.19, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.39 or more per hour.

    Is Kingsport above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Kingsport, TN-VA is 13.3% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Kingsport?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $25,070 per year in Kingsport, TN-VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,090.