SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Kingsport
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · 9 metro areas compared
In Kingsport, TN the median wage is $55,360.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Kingsport, TN the median wage is $55,360. That is 11.4% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $32,200 at the tenth percentile to more than $83,480 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $40,830 to $72,710.
Employment stands at 100, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $70,420. Of the 347 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 148th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,200 | −48.5% |
| 25th | $40,830 | −34.6% |
| Median (50th) | $55,360 | −11.4% |
| 75th | $72,710 | +16.4% |
| 90th | $83,480 | +33.6% |
| Mean | $57,730 | −7.6% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $70,420 | 1,780 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $69,280 | 60 | |
| 3 | Memphis | $66,230 | 540 | |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $63,690 | 280 | |
| 5 | Knoxville | $62,770 | 470 | |
| 6 | Cleveland | $62,180 | 30 | |
| 7 | Morristown | $61,290 | 30 | |
| 8 | Clarksville | $60,880 | 100 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $59,990 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kingsport run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $55,360 goes as far as $60,239 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,239US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,360 a year, 11.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,200 to $83,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $70,420.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Kingsport, TN?
The median annual wage is $55,360, or $26.62 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Kingsport, TN is 11.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kingsport, TN earns more than $83,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,200 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $70,420 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Kingsport, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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