Food Preparation Workers Salary in Tennessee
In Tennessee, food preparation workers earn a median $28,700 a year, well below the national median of $35,320 (−19%); the state ranks 44th of 51 states by median. That is 39% less than the median across all occupations in Tennessee ($47,380). Among neighbouring states, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri and North Carolina pay more (up to $35,250 in Georgia) and Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi pay less (down to $26,240 in Mississippi). Tennessee employs 19,780 food preparation workers, 6.03 per 1,000 jobs, the 11th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.05 is close to the national share.
Tennessee vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $10.71 | $11.71 | $13.80 | $17.22 | $19.07 | $14.84 | 19,780 | 6.03 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $22,290 | $24,350 | $28,700 | $35,820 | $39,660 | $30,860 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 44th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 11th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.05
- Jobs per 1,000
- 6.03
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Tennessee's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Tennessee
10 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Tennessee publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $16.65 | $34,640 | $24,040 | $44,090 | 6,410 | 5.84 | 1.02 |
| Knoxville, TN | $14.89 | $30,960 | $22,480 | $39,060 | 2,510 | 5.90 | 1.03 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $14.57 | $30,300 | $22,430 | $39,070 | 1,780 | 6.64 | 1.15 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $13.47 | $28,020 | $23,330 | $36,040 | 930 | 7.77 | 1.35 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $13.12 | $27,290 | $22,370 | $37,240 | 3,530 | 5.76 | 1.00 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $12.99 | $27,030 | $21,290 | $37,380 | 790 | 7.63 | 1.33 |
| Morristown, TN | $12.99 | $27,020 | $21,860 | $35,480 | 280 | 5.85 | 1.02 |
| Jackson, TN | $12.97 | $26,970 | $21,910 | $35,470 | 580 | 6.81 | 1.18 |
| Johnson City, TN | $12.91 | $26,850 | $21,210 | $35,470 | 800 | 9.83 | 1.71 |
| Cleveland, TN | $12.23 | $25,430 | $21,570 | $35,560 | 280 | 6.41 | 1.11 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $13.25 | $27,560 | $21,670 | $38,580 | 1,060 | 7.55 | 1.31 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $12.87 | $26,780 | $21,670 | $36,070 | 720 | 6.26 | 1.09 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $12.87 | $26,780 | $21,670 | $37,690 | 660 | 6.01 | 1.05 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $12.25 | $25,470 | $21,490 | $35,010 | 810 | 6.89 | 1.20 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $13.80 | $28,700 | 19,780 | 1.05 |
| Alabama | $13.43 | $27,930 | 17,680 | 1.46 |
| Arkansas | $13.30 | $27,660 | 5,500 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $16.95 | $35,250 | 26,450 | 0.94 |
| Kentucky | $12.91 | $26,850 | 15,390 | 1.34 |
| Missouri | $15.15 | $31,510 | 13,650 | 0.81 |
| Mississippi | $12.61 | $26,240 | 7,870 | 1.18 |
| North Carolina | $14.55 | $30,260 | 24,960 | 0.88 |
| Virginia | $16.78 | $34,900 | 16,340 | 0.69 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Tennessee wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Tennessee estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.