Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Knoxville, TN
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $35,150 a year ($16.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 970 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,370 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 1% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $35,570. There are 2.3 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $34,460, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,880 | $12.92 |
| 25th percentile | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Median | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 75th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Average (mean) | $34,460 | $16.57 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,929.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,464.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,351.92 |
| Weekly | $675.96 |
| Hourly | $16.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,150 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, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,910 | 2,880 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $35,570 | 470 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,210 | 510 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,110 | 510 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $33,410 | 940 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,170 | 1,530 |
| Cleveland, TN | $32,220 | 150 |
| Johnson City, TN | $31,330 | 440 |
| Morristown, TN | $30,080 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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, Fast Food | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $35,150 a year, or $16.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $43,370 a year. The top 25% earn $37,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,880 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $29,530 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Knoxville, TN?
About 970 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.