Food Preparation Worker Salary in Nashville, TN
Food Preparation Workers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $34,640 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,013 take-home, or $2,501 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,977
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,148
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,013
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 Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,040 | $11.56 | $21,407 | $1,784 |
| 25th percentile | $28,270 | $13.59 | $24,890 | $2,074 |
| Median (50th) | $34,640 | $16.65 | $30,013 | $2,501 |
| 75th percentile | $39,000 | $18.75 | $33,517 | $2,793 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,090 | $21.20 | $37,606 | $3,134 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,640 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $30,013 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,154 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 Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | $34,640 | $30,013 | $31,154 |
*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
- Knoxville, TN — $30,960
- Memphis, TN — $27,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Nashville, TN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $34,640 a year, or about $16.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,270 and $39,000.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $34,640 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $30,013 a year ($2,501 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,154 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #9 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,170
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,910
- Dishwasher — $34,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,210
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,800
- Bartender — $28,190