SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Tennessee
Tennessee · 10 metro areas compared
In Tennessee the median wage is $28,700.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tennessee the median wage is $28,700. That is 18.7% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay ranges from under $22,290 at the tenth percentile to more than $39,660 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $24,350 to $35,820.
Employment stands at 19,780, or 6.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Tennessee ranks number 44th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $34,640. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 715th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,290 | −36.9% |
| 25th | $24,350 | −31.1% |
| Median (50th) | $28,700 | −18.7% |
| 75th | $35,820 | +1.4% |
| 90th | $39,660 | +12.3% |
| Mean | $30,860 | −12.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $34,640 | 6,410 | |
| 2 | Knoxville | $30,960 | 2,510 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $30,300 | 1,780 | |
| 4 | Kingsport | $28,020 | 930 | |
| 5 | Memphis | $27,290 | 3,530 | |
| 6 | Clarksville | $27,030 | 790 | |
| 7 | Morristown | $27,020 | 280 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $26,970 | 580 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $26,850 | 800 | |
| 10 | Cleveland | $25,430 | 280 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $28,700 goes as far as $31,230 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,230US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,700 a year, 18.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,290 to $39,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 19,780 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 44th of 51 states for 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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $28,700, or $13.80 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 Tennessee is 18.7% 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 Tennessee earns more than $39,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,290 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 19,780 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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