How much does a food preparation worker make in Chattanooga?
$30,300a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area. That is $14.57 an hour or $2,525 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.57
- Vs. national median
- -14%
- Rank among cities
- 268 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 1,780
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,430Median: $30,300Highest 10%: $39,070
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,430 | $10.78 | |
| 25th | $24,180 | $11.63 | |
| Median | $30,300 | $14.57 | |
| 75th | $36,170 | $17.39 | |
| 90th | $39,070 | $18.78 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Nashville, TN | $34,640 |
| Knoxville, TN | $30,960 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,020 |
| Memphis, TN | $27,290 |
| Clarksville, TN | $27,030 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,020 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,970 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,850 |
| Cleveland, TN | $25,430 |
Related jobs in Chattanooga
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $63,690 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,220 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $37,410 |
| Cook | $36,010 |
| Cook | $35,990 |
| Cook | $33,410 |
| Food Server | $30,740 |
| Cook | $29,950 |
| Dishwasher | $29,430 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $27,870 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Chattanooga?
The median hourly pay in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $14.57 ($30,300 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Chattanooga than the national average?
No: $30,300 against $35,320 nationally, 14% less.
How does Chattanooga compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $28,700, so Chattanooga pays 6% more.
Where does Chattanooga rank for food preparation worker pay?
268 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,430 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,070 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.