Johnson City, TN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Johnson City, TN

In the Johnson City, TN metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $27,500 ($13.22/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $21,300/year and the 90th was $38,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,256 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 87.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$27,500$13.22 per hour · $2,292 monthly
10th Percentile$21,300$10.24/hr base
25th Percentile$23,300$11.20/hr base
75th Percentile$34,300$16.49/hr base
90th Percentile$38,000$18.27/hr base

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.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$27,500
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$27,500
Net 88%
Fed 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,256After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,021Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$933Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,140 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,104 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Johnson City, TN

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$10.24/hr$1,775$21,300$19,151
25th Percentile$11.20/hr$1,942$23,300$20,798
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.22/hr$2,292$27,500$24,256
75th Percentile$16.49/hr$2,858$34,300$29,740
90th Percentile$18.27/hr$3,167$38,000$32,713

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Johnson City, TN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$27,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$57,762Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index87.912.1% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio47.6%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Tennessee:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Johnson City, TN

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

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Johnson City, TN is $27,500, which equates to approximately $2,292 per month or $13.22 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Johnson City, TN is $13.22 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.24/hour and one in ten earned more than $18.27/hour.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Johnson City, TN span from $21,300 at the 10th percentile to $23,300 at the 25th, $34,300 at the 75th, and $38,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $27,500, an estimated $24,256 lands in net take-home pay per year ($933 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,244 (an effective rate of 11.8%).

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

On the median annual salary of $27,500, gross monthly income is $2,292. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,021 per month (or $933 every two weeks).

Is $27,500 a good salary in Johnson City, TN?

At $27,500, the median salary for food preparation workers is 47.6% of the Johnson City, TN median household income ($57,762). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 87.9, making regional consumer goods and services 12.1% cheaper than the U.S. average.