Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Johnson City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,500 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Johnson City earn between $28,290 and $35,410.
- $25K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $35K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,990 | $2,666 | $15.38 |
| Median | $31,330 | $2,611 | $15.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,290 | $2,358 | $13.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,410 | $2,951 | $17.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Johnson City vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Johnson City earn 9% less than the Tennessee average ($35,260) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | $31,990 | $31,330 | $25,250 | $36,500 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $35,260 | $35,570 | $27,830 | $45,430 | 10,680 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Johnson City
On the average salary of $31,990, a single filer in Johnson City takes home about $27,884 a year, or $2,324 a month and $1,072 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $31,990 buys what about $36,382 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Johnson City ($43,480). A typical home costs $282,532, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Tennessee cities
Johnson City ranks 9th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($38,680).
- Nashville$38,680
- Jackson$34,890
- Kingsport$34,850
- Chattanooga$34,760
- Knoxville$34,460
- Memphis$34,410
- Cleveland$33,870
- Clarksville$33,810
- Johnson City$31,990
- Morristown$30,340
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Johnson City: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Johnson City?
$15.38 an hour on average, and $15.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Johnson City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Johnson City?
About $27,884 a year ($2,324 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,990. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Johnson City than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Johnson City, TN (27740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.92, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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