Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Knoxville, TN

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

Median annual salary $28,450 -17.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.68
10th percentile $17,790
90th percentile $39,210
Employed locally 610
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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Knoxville, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,790
    25th
    $24,120
    50th (median)
    $28,450
    75th
    $33,540
    90th
    $39,210

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 41% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $31,480
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $28,890
    Jackson, TN $28,850
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $28,220
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $27,960
    Clarksville, TN-KY $23,870

    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
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,760

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Knoxville?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Knoxville, TN is $13.68, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.63 or more per hour.

    Is Knoxville above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Knoxville, TN is 17.4% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Knoxville?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $17,790 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,120.