Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Kingsport, TN-VA

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

Median annual salary $33,930 -7.9% vs national
Median hourly $16.31
10th percentile $24,960
90th percentile $42,620
Employed locally 1,030
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Kingsport, TN-VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,960
    25th
    $28,350
    50th (median)
    $33,930
    75th
    $37,150
    90th
    $42,620

    Kingsport economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $55,948 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 61% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 39% 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
    Morristown, TN $33,060

    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, Fast Food $28,290
    Food Preparation Workers $28,030
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $31,600

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Kingsport?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Kingsport, TN-VA is $16.31, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.27 or more per hour.

    Is Kingsport above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kingsport, TN-VA is 7.9% 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 Kingsport?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $24,960 per year in Kingsport, TN-VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,350.