The average salary for a food preparation worker in Tennessee is around $28,700 per year.
Avg Salary
Food preparation workers earn an average yearly salary of $28,700.
Wages typically start from $22,290 and go up to $39,660.
53% below national average Updated in 2025
Food preparation worker earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$19.07 per hour
$39,660 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$17.22 per hour
$35,820 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$13.80 per hour
$28,700 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$11.71 per hour
$24,350 per year
10th percentile
Starting level food preparation worker earnings begin at:
$10.71 per hour
$22,290 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Food preparation worker salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
| Connecticut | $36,650 |
| Vermont | $36,550 |
| Wyoming | $36,110 |
| Maine | $36,030 |
| Delaware | $35,930 |
| Florida | $35,920 |
| Alaska | $35,720 |
| New York | $35,610 |
| New Jersey | $35,540 |
| Maryland | $35,500 |
| Rhode Island | $35,470 |
| Georgia | $35,250 |
| Nebraska | $35,210 |
| Virginia | $34,900 |
| Illinois | $34,850 |
| Minnesota | $34,850 |
| Ohio | $34,530 |
| Wisconsin | $34,070 |
| Montana | $33,860 |
| Utah | $33,540 |
| Nevada | $33,460 |
| New Mexico | $33,370 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 |
| Idaho | $31,510 |
| Missouri | $31,510 |
| Michigan | $31,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,840 |
| Texas | $30,650 |
| South Dakota | $30,430 |
| Iowa | $30,360 |
| Kansas | $30,280 |
| North Carolina | $30,260 |
| Indiana | $29,700 |
| Tennessee | $28,700 |
| Oklahoma | $28,540 |
| West Virginia | $28,360 |
| Alabama | $27,930 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 |
| Kentucky | $26,850 |
| Mississippi | $26,240 |
| Louisiana | $23,620 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $21,500 |
| Guam | $19,420 |
| Puerto Rico | $17,830 |
How do food preparation worker salaries compare to similar careers?
Food preparation workers earn 8% less than similar careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than food batchmakers but more than hosts and hostesses.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Food batchmaker salary | $43K |
| Butcher salary | $40K |
| Restaurant cook salary | $36K |
| Baker salary | $34K |
| Bartender salary | $27K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $29K |
| Food server salary | $28K |
| Barista salary | $27K |
| Host and hostess salary | $27K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)