SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Tennessee
Tennessee · 9 metro areas compared
In Tennessee the median wage is $30,670.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tennessee the median wage is $30,670. That is 13.3% lower than the national median of $35,360. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $27,630 and $36,180. The lowest tenth earn under $22,620, while the highest tenth earn more than $46,750.
The area has 5,230 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.84 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 40th by median wage. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $33,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 698th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,620 | −36.0% |
| 25th | $27,630 | −21.9% |
| Median (50th) | $30,670 | −13.3% |
| 75th | $36,180 | +2.3% |
| 90th | $46,750 | +32.2% |
| Mean | $32,590 | −7.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $33,830 | 2,240 | |
| 2 | Memphis | $31,080 | 820 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $30,740 | 350 | |
| 4 | Cleveland | $30,640 | 40 | |
| 5 | Knoxville | $29,100 | 620 | |
| 6 | Kingsport | $28,430 | 140 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $27,950 | 100 | |
| 8 | Clarksville | $27,510 | 120 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $27,050 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $30,670 goes as far as $33,373 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,373US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,670 a year, 13.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,620 to $46,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,230 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 40th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $33,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $30,670, or $14.75 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 $35,360, so pay in Tennessee is 13.3% 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 Tennessee earns more than $46,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,620 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 $33,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,230 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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