Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Johnson City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,920 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Johnson City earn between $38,380 and $73,660.
- $29K10th
- $38K25th
- $60KMedian
- $74K75th
- $93K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,110 | $4,842 | $27.94 |
| Median | $59,990 | $4,999 | $28.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,380 | $3,198 | $18.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,660 | $6,138 | $35.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Johnson City vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Johnson City earn 18% less than the Tennessee average ($70,710) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | $58,110 | $59,990 | $29,400 | $92,920 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $70,710 | $69,810 | $45,410 | $98,860 | 3,820 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Johnson City
On the average salary of $58,110, a single filer in Johnson City takes home about $48,871 a year, or $4,073 a month and $1,880 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Johnson City a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Johnson City area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.9), so the average $58,110 buys what about $66,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Johnson City ($43,480). A typical home costs $282,532, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Tennessee cities
Johnson City ranks 8th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($75,580).
- Nashville$75,580
- Memphis$68,660
- Knoxville$67,690
- Jackson$67,370
- Chattanooga$65,470
- Cleveland$65,210
- Clarksville$62,870
- Johnson City$58,110
- Kingsport$57,730
- Morristown$57,340
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Johnson City: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Johnson City?
$27.94 an hour on average, and $28.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Johnson City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Johnson City?
About $48,871 a year ($4,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,110. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Johnson City than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 35-1011; area Johnson City, TN (27740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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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