Cooks, Fast Food salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $26,930 a year ($12.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 720 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,400 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 5% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $28,330. There are 6.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,120 | $9.67 |
| 25th percentile | $21,960 | $10.56 |
| Median | $26,930 | $12.95 |
| 75th percentile | $32,960 | $15.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| Average (mean) | $28,270 | $13.59 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,244.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,122.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,035.77 |
| Weekly | $517.88 |
| Hourly | $12.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,930 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,800 | 10,580 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,210 | 4,840 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $33,970 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $29,570 | 1,180 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $29,290 | 310 |
| Roanoke, VA | $29,160 | n/a |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $28,680 | 190 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $28,430 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $28,380 | 5,030 |
| Knoxville, TN | $27,580 | 2,120 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 | 240 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,890 | 940 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 | 400 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 | 570 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,420 | 910 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| 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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $26,930 a year, or $12.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $39,400 a year. The top 25% earn $32,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,120 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $21,960 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 720 cooks, fast food are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.