SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 9 metro areas compared
In Knoxville, TN the median wage is $30,960.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Knoxville, TN the median wage is $30,960. That is 12.3% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay ranges from under $22,480 at the tenth percentile to more than $39,060 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $25,670 to $35,400.
The area has 2,510 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.03 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $34,640. Of the 536 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 506th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,480 | −36.4% |
| 25th | $25,670 | −27.3% |
| Median (50th) | $30,960 | −12.3% |
| 75th | $35,400 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $39,060 | +10.6% |
| Mean | $31,220 | −11.6% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $34,640 | 6,410 | |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $30,300 | 1,780 | |
| 3 | Kingsport | $28,020 | 930 | |
| 4 | Memphis | $27,290 | 3,530 | |
| 5 | Clarksville | $27,030 | 790 | |
| 6 | Morristown | $27,020 | 280 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $26,970 | 580 | |
| 8 | Johnson City | $26,850 | 800 | |
| 9 | Cleveland | $25,430 | 280 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Knoxville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $30,960 goes as far as $33,689 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,960as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,689US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,960 a year, 12.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,480 to $39,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,510 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $34,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Knoxville, TN?
The median annual wage is $30,960, or $14.89 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 $35,320, so pay in Knoxville, TN is 12.3% 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 Knoxville, TN earns more than $39,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,480 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 $34,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,510 jobs in this occupation in Knoxville, 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.
Explore related data