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Jackson, TN metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Jackson, TN?

In the Jackson, TN metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $26,970 a year ($12.97 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 580 of these jobs there. That is 40% below the $44,790 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $21,910 and $35,470; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $23,820 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Jackson, TN at a glance

Median salary

$26,970$12.97 per hour · $2,248 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$21,910$10.53/hr
25th percentile$23,420$11.26/hr
75th percentile$32,790$15.77/hr
90th percentile$35,470$17.05/hr
Jobs in this metro580Location quotient 1.18 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here40% belowAll-jobs median $44,790
Against Tennessee6% belowStatewide median $28,700
Against the U.S.24% belowNational median $35,320

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $27,000 a year leaves after tax in TennesseeFederal tax, FICA and Tennessee withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$13 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $27,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $27,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Tennessee publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Tennessee.

Food preparation worker salary in Jackson, TN after taxes

$26,970
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$26,970
Net 88%
Fed 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,820After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,985Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$916Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,087 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,063 / yr
Customize deductions in full Tennessee calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Jackson, TN, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Jackson, TN metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Jackson, TN metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (TN)
10th percentile$10.53/hr$1,826$21,910$19,653
25th percentile$11.26/hr$1,952$23,420$20,896
MedianMedian$12.97/hr$2,248$26,970$23,820
75th percentile$15.77/hr$2,733$32,790$28,527
90th percentile$17.05/hr$2,956$35,470$30,680

Is $26,970 a good salary in Jackson, TN?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$61,177Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)85.514.5% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household44.1%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Tennessee metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Jackson, TN. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Jackson, TN: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Jackson, TN?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Jackson, TN metro area was $26,970 in May 2025, about $2,248 a month or $12.97 an hour. Statewide, the Tennessee median for this job is $28,700, so the metro pays 6% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Jackson, TN?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Jackson, TN was $12.97 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.53 an hour and one in ten earned more than $17.05.

How many food preparation workers work in Jackson, TN?

BLS estimated 580 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 6.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.18 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Jackson, TN?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Jackson, TN run from $21,910 at the 10th percentile to $23,420 at the 25th, $32,790 at the 75th, and $35,470 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Jackson, TN?

On a median gross salary of $26,970, an estimated $23,820 lands in net take-home pay per year ($916 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,150 (an effective rate of 11.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Jackson, TN?

On the median annual salary of $26,970, gross monthly income is $2,248. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,985 per month (or $916 every two weeks).

Is $26,970 a good salary in Jackson, TN?

At $26,970, the median salary for food preparation workers is 44.1% of the Jackson, TN median household income ($61,177). It is 40% below the $44,790 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 85.5, so prices here run 14.5% below the U.S. average.