Food Preparation Workers salary
in Knoxville, TN
- Middle 50%
- $25,670–$35,400
- vs U.S. median
- -12%
- Metro rank
- #285 of 496
Food Preparation Workers in the Knoxville, TN metro earn a median of $30,960 a year, based on BLS estimates for 2,510 jobs (May 2025). That is 12% below the U.S. median of $35,320 and 8% above the TN statewide median of $28,700. It ranks #285 of 496 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE2,510 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Food Preparation Workers pay in other TN metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,640 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $30,300 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,020 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27,560 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,290 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,030 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,020 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,970 |
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RELATED JOBS IN KNOXVILLE
Questions
What is the average Food Preparation Workers salary in Knoxville?
The BLS median is $30,960 a year (May 2025). Half of the 2,510 jobs pay between $25,670 and $35,400. The 10th percentile is $22,480 and the 90th is $39,060.
Is Knoxville a high-paying metro for Food Preparation Workers?
That is 12% below the U.S. median of $35,320 and 8% above the TN statewide median of $28,700. It ranks #285 of 496 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Food Preparation Workers make an hour in Knoxville?
About $14.88 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $30,960 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $12.34–$17.02 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.