Food Preparation Workers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,240 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Memphis earn between $22,370 and $34,120.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $27KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,130 | $2,428 | $14.00 |
| Median | $27,290 | $2,274 | $13.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,370 | $1,864 | $10.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,120 | $2,843 | $16.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Memphis earn 6% less than the Tennessee average ($30,860) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $29,130 | $27,290 | $22,370 | $37,240 | 3,530 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $29,130, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $25,586 a year, or $2,132 a month and $984 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $25,586 | $2,132 |
| Working in MS | $25,153 | $2,096 |
| Working in AR | $24,996 | $2,083 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $29,130 buys what about $31,602 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th 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 Memphis: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Memphis?
$14.01 an hour on average, and $13.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $25,586 a year ($2,132 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,130. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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