How much does a food preparation worker make in Nashville?
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $16.65 an hour or $2,887 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.65
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 147 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 6,410
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,040 | $11.56 | |
| 25th | $28,270 | $13.59 | |
| Median | $34,640 | $16.65 | |
| 75th | $39,000 | $18.75 | |
| 90th | $44,090 | $21.20 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Knoxville, TN | $30,960 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $30,300 |
| 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 Nashville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $70,420 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,630 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $40,370 |
| Cook | $38,170 |
| Cook | $37,910 |
| Cook | $37,830 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 |
| Cook | $34,210 |
| Food Server | $33,830 |
| Cook | $33,220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Nashville?
The median hourly pay in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $16.65 ($34,640 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Nashville than the national average?
No: $34,640 against $35,320 nationally, 2% less.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $28,700, so Nashville pays 21% more.
Where does Nashville rank for food preparation worker pay?
147 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,090 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.