Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,780 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Knoxville earn between $26,230 and $33,700.
- $21K10th
- $26K25th
- $28KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,980 | $2,415 | $13.93 |
| Median | $27,580 | $2,298 | $13.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,230 | $2,186 | $12.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,700 | $2,808 | $16.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($29,480) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $28,980 | $27,580 | $21,250 | $36,780 | 2,120 |
| Tennessee | $29,480 | $28,330 | $20,380 | $38,330 | 14,020 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $28,980, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $25,465 a year, or $2,122 a month and $979 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $28,980 buys what about $31,306 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($32,970).
- Nashville$32,970
- Knoxville$28,980
- Kingsport$28,270
- Memphis$27,550
- Morristown$26,870
- Chattanooga$26,840
- Clarksville$26,710
- Johnson City$26,420
- Jackson$26,170
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Knoxville?
$13.93 an hour on average, and $13.26 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $25,465 a year ($2,122 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,980. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2011; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.