Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in Tennessee
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Tennessee earn a median of $36,640 a year ($17.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,370 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $35,840. Tennessee ranks 12th of 44 states for food preparation and serving related workers, all other pay. There are 0.81 food preparation and serving related workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,450, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation and serving related workers, all other in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,990 | $11.05 |
| 25th percentile | $29,480 | $14.18 |
| Median | $36,640 | $17.61 |
| 75th percentile | $38,530 | $18.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,370 | $19.41 |
| Average (mean) | $34,450 | $16.56 |
Half of food preparation and serving related workers, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,053.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,526.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,409.23 |
| Weekly | $704.62 |
| Hourly | $17.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,640 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $40,370 | 550 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,530 | 460 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $37,410 | 360 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $36,660 | n/a |
| Knoxville, TN | $35,970 | 530 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,280 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation and serving related workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | $46,170 |
| Hawaii | $43,540 |
| Oregon | $39,080 |
| Illinois | $38,880 |
| District of Columbia | $38,580 |
| New Hampshire | $38,210 |
| Indiana | $38,160 |
| Arizona | $37,600 |
| Maryland | $37,500 |
| Utah | $37,180 |
See Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other pay in every state.
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,490 | $13.22 |
| Dishwasher | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,760 | $13.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Bartender | $27,480 | $13.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-9099. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related workers, all other make in Tennessee?
The median salary for food preparation and serving related workers, all other in Tennessee is $36,640 a year, or $17.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation and serving related workers, all other make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of food preparation and serving related workers, all other in Tennessee earn at least $40,370 a year. The top 25% earn $38,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation and serving related workers, all other in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,990 a year, and a quarter of food preparation and serving related workers, all other earn $29,480 or less.
How many food preparation and serving related workers, all other work in Tennessee?
About 2,670 food preparation and serving related workers, all other are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.