Food Preparation Worker Salary in Knoxville, TN
Food Preparation Workers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $30,960 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,056 take-home, or $2,255 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,535
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,920
- Medicare (1.45%)$449
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$27,056
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,480 | $10.81 | $20,122 | $1,677 |
| 25th percentile | $25,670 | $12.34 | $22,749 | $1,896 |
| Median (50th) | $30,960 | $14.88 | $27,056 | $2,255 |
| 75th percentile | $35,400 | $17.02 | $30,624 | $2,552 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,060 | $18.78 | $33,565 | $2,797 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,960 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $27,056 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,228 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 Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #36 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 |
| 36 | Knoxville, TN | $30,960 | $27,056 | $29,228 |
*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
- Memphis, TN — $27,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Knoxville, TN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $30,960 a year, or about $14.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $25,670 and $35,400.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $30,960 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $27,056 a year ($2,255 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,228 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #36 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720