Food Service Managers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,510 or more. The middle half of food service managers in Knoxville earn between $57,010 and $88,710.
- $48K10th
- $57K25th
- $64KMedian
- $89K75th
- $122K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,010 | $6,251 | $36.06 |
| Median | $63,940 | $5,328 | $30.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,010 | $4,751 | $27.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,710 | $7,392 | $42.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Service Managers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Food service managers in Knoxville earn 5% more than the Tennessee average ($71,740) and about the same as the U.S. average ($74,880). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $69,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $75,010 | $63,940 | $47,950 | $121,510 | 610 |
| Tennessee | $71,740 | $64,410 | $43,080 | $101,150 | 4,550 |
| United States | $74,880 | $69,390 | $45,960 | $107,640 | 238,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Service Managers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $75,010, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $61,600 a year, or $5,133 a month and $2,369 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 food service managers? 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 $75,010 buys what about $81,031 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Service Managers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 1st of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Knoxville$75,010
- Nashville$73,460
- Memphis$73,400
- Chattanooga$70,070
- Johnson City$69,230
- Cleveland$68,110
- Clarksville$67,620
- Kingsport$66,970
- Morristown$66,420
- Jackson$66,310
Highest-paying cities for food service managers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,480).
- Seattle, WA$104,480
- Kennewick, WA$104,110
- San Jose, CA$98,230
- Olympia, WA$97,450
- Napa, CA$96,840
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Food Service Managers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do food service managers make an hour in Knoxville?
$36.06 an hour on average, and $30.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food service managers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food service managers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $61,600 a year ($5,133 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,010. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do food service managers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($74,880).
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 11-9051; 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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