Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Knoxville, TN
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $29,100 a year ($13.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,660 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 5% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $30,670. There are 1.5 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $30,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,790 | $10.96 |
| 25th percentile | $28,340 | $13.62 |
| Median | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| 75th percentile | $33,350 | $16.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,660 | $17.63 |
| Average (mean) | $30,730 | $14.78 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,425 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,212.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,119.23 |
| Weekly | $559.62 |
| Hourly | $13.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $33,830 | 2,240 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $31,080 | 820 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,740 | 350 |
| Cleveland, TN | $30,640 | 40 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,430 | 140 |
| Jackson, TN | $27,950 | 100 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,510 | 120 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,050 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Bartender | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $29,100 a year, or $13.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $36,660 a year. The top 25% earn $33,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,790 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,340 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Knoxville, TN?
About 620 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.