Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

In the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $27,000 ($12.98/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $21,000/year and the 90th was $37,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $23,845 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$27,000$12.98 per hour · $2,250 monthly
10th Percentile$21,000$10.10/hr base
25th Percentile$22,900$11.01/hr base
75th Percentile$33,700$16.20/hr base
90th Percentile$37,300$17.93/hr base

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

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$27,000
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$27,000
Net 88%
Fed 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,845After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,987Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$917Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,090 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,066 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$10.10/hr$1,750$21,000$18,904
25th Percentile$11.01/hr$1,908$22,900$20,468
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$12.98/hr$2,250$27,000$23,845
75th Percentile$16.20/hr$2,808$33,700$29,258
90th Percentile$17.93/hr$3,108$37,300$32,151

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$27,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$57,792Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.413.6% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio46.7%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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is $27,000, which equates to approximately $2,250 per month or $12.98 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is $12.98 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.10/hour and one in ten earned more than $17.93/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA span from $21,000 at the 10th percentile to $22,900 at the 25th, $33,700 at the 75th, and $37,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

On a median gross salary of $27,000, an estimated $23,845 lands in net take-home pay per year ($917 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,156 (an effective rate of 11.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

On the median annual salary of $27,000, gross monthly income is $2,250. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,987 per month (or $917 every two weeks).

Is $27,000 a good salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

At $27,000, the median salary for food preparation workers is 46.7% of the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA median household income ($57,792). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.4, making regional consumer goods and services 13.6% cheaper than the U.S. average.