Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Tennessee
Food Prep Worker Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$13.80 per hour · take-home ≈ $25,240/year ($2,103/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $22,290 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $24,350 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $28,700 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $35,820 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $39,660 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 19,780 Food Prep Worker jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $28,700 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $25,240 — an effective tax rate of 12.1%.
| Gross (median) | $28,700 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,264 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,196 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $25,240 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,103 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Tennessee?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Tennessee is $28,700 per year ($13.80 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $24,350 and $35,820.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $28,700, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $25,240 per year ($2,103 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 12.1%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 19,780 Food Prep Worker jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
Other salaries in Tennessee
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Tennessee state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Tennessee.