Food Preparation Worker Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Food Preparation Workers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $30,300 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,526 take-home, or $2,211 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,456
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,526
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro spans Tennessee, Georgia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,430 | $10.78 | $20,081 | $1,673 |
| 25th percentile | $24,180 | $11.63 | $21,522 | $1,794 |
| Median (50th) | $30,300 | $14.57 | $26,526 | $2,211 |
| 75th percentile | $36,170 | $17.39 | $31,243 | $2,604 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,070 | $18.78 | $33,573 | $2,798 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,300 buys in Chattanooga, TN
Prices in Chattanooga, TN are 8.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,526 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,002 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 Chattanooga, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #147 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 147 | Chattanooga, TN | $30,300 | $26,526 | $29,002 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $34,640
- Knoxville, TN — $30,960
- Kingsport, TN — $28,020
- Jackson, TN — $26,970
- Johnson City, TN — $26,850
- Clarksville, TN — $27,030
- Memphis, TN — $27,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $30,300 a year, or about $14.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,180 and $36,170.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $30,300 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $26,526 a year ($2,211 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,002 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #147 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Chattanooga, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chattanooga, TN is $1,263 a month ($1,390 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 Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,010
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,410
- Dishwasher — $29,430
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,870
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,890
- Bartender — $25,650
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,240