Cooks, Fast Food salary in Knoxville, TN
Cooks, Fast Food in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $27,580 a year ($13.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,780 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 3% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $28,330. There are 5.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,250 | $10.22 |
| 25th percentile | $26,230 | $12.61 |
| Median | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| 75th percentile | $33,700 | $16.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Average (mean) | $28,980 | $13.93 |
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 | $2,298.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,149.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,060.77 |
| Weekly | $530.38 |
| Hourly | $13.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,580 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,210 | 4,840 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 | 240 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,930 | 720 |
| 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 Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Bartender | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $27,580 a year, or $13.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $36,780 a year. The top 25% earn $33,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,250 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $26,230 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Knoxville, TN?
About 2,120 cooks, fast food are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.