Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Knoxville, TN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $27,720 a year ($13.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,700 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 1% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,470. There are 30 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| 25th percentile | $23,500 | $11.30 |
| Median | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| 75th percentile | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,700 | $17.17 |
| Average (mean) | $27,950 | $13.44 |
Half of fast food and counter workers 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 | $2,310 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,155 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,066.15 |
| Weekly | $533.08 |
| Hourly | $13.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,720 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,150 | 28,680 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,490 | 15,320 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $27,140 | 7,770 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,990 | 4,000 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,890 | 4,170 |
| Morristown, TN | $26,530 | 1,590 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,360 | 2,370 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,270 | 2,900 |
| Cleveland, TN | $26,140 | 1,830 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Bartender | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,770 | $30.18 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
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 35-3023. 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 fast food and counter workers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $27,720 a year, or $13.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $35,700 a year. The top 25% earn $29,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,630 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $23,500 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Knoxville, TN?
About 12,730 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.