Food Preparation Worker Salary in Jackson, TN
Food Preparation Workers in the Jackson, TN metro area earn a median $26,970 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,820 take-home, or $1,985 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Jackson, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,087
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,672
- Medicare (1.45%)$391
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$23,820
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Jackson, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,910 | $10.53 | $19,653 | $1,638 |
| 25th percentile | $23,420 | $11.26 | $20,896 | $1,741 |
| Median (50th) | $26,970 | $12.97 | $23,820 | $1,985 |
| 75th percentile | $32,790 | $15.76 | $28,527 | $2,377 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,470 | $17.05 | $30,680 | $2,557 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,970 buys in Jackson, TN
Prices in Jackson, TN are 14.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 43% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $23,820 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,852 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 Jackson, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Jackson, TN ranks #186 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 |
| 186 | Jackson, TN | $26,970 | $23,820 | $27,852 |
*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
- Chattanooga, TN — $30,300
- Kingsport, TN — $28,020
- 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 Jackson, TN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Jackson, TN metro area is $26,970 a year, or about $12.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,420 and $32,790.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Jackson, TN?
On the median $26,970 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $23,820 a year ($1,985 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Jackson, TN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 14.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,852 would in a typical U.S. city. Jackson, TN ranks #186 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Jackson, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jackson, TN is $880 a month ($1,153 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jackson, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,660
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,490
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,110
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,360
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,490