Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $34,600 a year ($16.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,170 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 8.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,800, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,730 | $12.85 |
| 25th percentile | $28,520 | $13.71 |
| Median | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| 75th percentile | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,170 | $20.27 |
| Average (mean) | $33,800 | $16.25 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,883.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,441.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,330.77 |
| Weekly | $665.38 |
| Hourly | $16.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,600 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $42,920 | 29,670 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,170 | 10,420 |
| Richmond, VA | $37,080 | 6,160 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $36,960 | 1,370 |
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,280 | 8,380 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $35,920 | 740 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $35,900 | 500 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $35,390 | 660 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $35,080 | 1,000 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $35,050 | 720 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 340 |
| Roanoke, VA | $34,920 | 1,560 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 780 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,930 | $12.95 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $34,600 a year, or $16.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $42,170 a year. The top 25% earn $36,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,730 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,520 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 1,020 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.