Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $55,360 a year ($26.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,480 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 21% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $69,810. There are 0.85 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $57,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| 25th percentile | $40,830 | $19.63 |
| Median | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| 75th percentile | $72,710 | $34.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,480 | $40.14 |
| Average (mean) | $57,730 | $27.76 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,613.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,306.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,129.23 |
| Weekly | $1,064.62 |
| Hourly | $26.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $55,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,900 | 4,680 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,420 | 1,780 |
| Jackson, TN | $69,280 | 60 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | 540 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | 280 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $63,270 | 60 |
| Knoxville, TN | $62,770 | 470 |
| Cleveland, TN | $62,180 | 30 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $61,990 | 180 |
| Morristown, TN | $61,290 | 30 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Johnson City, TN | $59,990 | 100 |
| Richmond, VA | $59,730 | 540 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,730 | 530 |
| Roanoke, VA | $57,350 | 100 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $56,930 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $56,580 | 70 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $54,110 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,930 | $12.95 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Bartender | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Dishwasher | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,280 | $16.96 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $55,360 a year, or $26.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $83,480 a year. The top 25% earn $72,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,200 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $40,830 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 100 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.