Food Preparation Worker Salary in Memphis, TN
Food Preparation Workers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $27,290 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,083 take-home, or $2,007 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,119
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,692
- Medicare (1.45%)$396
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,083
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,370 | $10.75 | $20,032 | $1,669 |
| 25th percentile | $22,370 | $10.75 | $20,032 | $1,669 |
| Median (50th) | $27,290 | $13.12 | $24,083 | $2,007 |
| 75th percentile | $34,120 | $16.40 | $29,595 | $2,466 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,240 | $17.90 | $32,102 | $2,675 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,290 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $24,083 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,127 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #59 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 59 | Memphis, TN | $27,290 | $24,083 | $26,127 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $34,640
- Knoxville, TN — $30,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Memphis, TN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $27,290 a year, or about $13.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,370 and $34,120.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $27,290 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $24,083 a year ($2,007 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,127 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #59 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,490
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,550