Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Johnson City, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Johnson City, TN

Median annual salary $30,640 -16.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.73
10th percentile $23,020
90th percentile $39,690
Employed locally 790
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Johnson City, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,020
    25th
    $27,520
    50th (median)
    $30,640
    75th
    $36,990
    90th
    $39,690

    Johnson City economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,096 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 55% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 45% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $37,440
    Knoxville, TN $35,630
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $35,220
    Jackson, TN $34,670
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $34,560
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $33,930

    Related occupations in Johnson City, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,620
    Waiters and Waitresses$27,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,720
    Food Preparation Workers$25,870
    Cooks, Fast Food$26,660
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$29,760

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Johnson City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Johnson City, TN is $14.73, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.57 or more per hour.

    Is Johnson City above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Johnson City, TN is 16.8% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Johnson City?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,020 per year in Johnson City, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,520.