Food Preparation Workers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,060 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Knoxville earn between $25,670 and $35,400.
- $22K10th
- $26K25th
- $31KMedian
- $35K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,220 | $2,602 | $15.01 |
| Median | $30,960 | $2,580 | $14.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,670 | $2,139 | $12.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,400 | $2,950 | $17.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($30,860) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $31,220 | $30,960 | $22,480 | $39,060 | 2,510 |
| Tennessee | $30,860 | $28,700 | $22,290 | $39,660 | 19,780 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $31,220, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $27,265 a year, or $2,272 a month and $1,049 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $31,220 buys what about $33,726 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 11.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($34,380).
- Nashville$34,380
- Knoxville$31,220
- Chattanooga$30,900
- Memphis$29,130
- Kingsport$28,670
- Clarksville$28,300
- Jackson$28,200
- Cleveland$27,950
- Johnson City$27,700
- Morristown$27,480
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Knoxville?
$15.01 an hour on average, and $14.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $27,265 a year ($2,272 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,220. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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