Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $27,290 a year ($13.12 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 3,530 of these jobs there. That is 42% below the $46,890 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $22,370 and $37,240; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Arkansas tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $23,556 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Memphis, TN at a glance

Median salary

$27,290$13.12 per hour · $2,274 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$22,370$10.76/hr
25th percentile$22,370$10.76/hr
75th percentile$34,120$16.41/hr
90th percentile$37,240$17.90/hr
Jobs in this metro3,530Location quotient 1.00 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here42% belowAll-jobs median $46,890
Against Arkansas1% belowStatewide median $27,660
Against the U.S.23% belowNational median $35,320

Run the numbers on your own pay

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

Food preparation worker salary in Memphis, TN after taxes

$27,290
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$27,290
Net 86%
Fed 4%
AR 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,556After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,963Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$906Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,119 / yr
Arkansas state income tax$527 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,088 / yr

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

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AR)
10th percentile$10.76/hr$1,864$22,370$19,672
25th percentile$10.76/hr$1,864$22,370$19,672
MedianMedian$13.12/hr$2,274$27,290$23,556
75th percentile$16.41/hr$2,843$34,120$28,810
90th percentile$17.90/hr$3,103$37,240$31,195

Is $27,290 a good salary in Memphis, 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$66,401Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)92.27.8% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household41.1%of area median income

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

Food preparation worker pay in Memphis, TN: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area was $27,290 in May 2025, about $2,274 a month or $13.12 an hour. Statewide, the Arkansas median for this job is $27,660, so the metro pays 1% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR was $13.12 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.76 an hour and one in ten earned more than $17.90.

How many food preparation workers work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

BLS estimated 3,530 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 5.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.00 means the job is about as common here as in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR run from $22,370 at the 10th percentile to $22,370 at the 25th, $34,120 at the 75th, and $37,240 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

On a median gross salary of $27,290, an estimated $23,556 lands in net take-home pay per year ($906 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Arkansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,734 (an effective rate of 13.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

On the median annual salary of $27,290, gross monthly income is $2,274. After federal, FICA, and Arkansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,963 per month (or $906 every two weeks).

Is $27,290 a good salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?

At $27,290, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.1% of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR median household income ($66,401). It is 42% below the $46,890 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 92.2, so prices here run 7.8% below the U.S. average.