Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in Tennessee
Food Processing Workers, All Other in Tennessee earn a median of $42,690 a year ($20.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,610 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $39,680. Tennessee ranks 14th of 46 states for food processing workers, all other pay. There are 0.58 food processing workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,440, close to the median.
Pay range for food processing workers, all other in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 25th percentile | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Median | $42,690 | $20.52 |
| 75th percentile | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Average (mean) | $42,440 | $20.41 |
Half of food processing workers, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,557.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,778.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,641.92 |
| Weekly | $820.96 |
| Hourly | $20.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $47,320 | 340 |
| Morristown, TN | $46,320 | 380 |
| Jackson, TN | $43,150 | 120 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $42,840 | 150 |
| Cleveland, TN | $39,380 | 100 |
| Knoxville, TN | $38,860 | 70 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,170 | 290 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,290 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for food processing workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $46,930 |
| Idaho | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,060 |
| New Hampshire | $45,410 |
| Illinois | $45,340 |
| Arizona | $45,330 |
| North Dakota | $45,120 |
| Missouri | $44,050 |
| Washington | $43,980 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $34,440 | $16.56 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3099. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food processing workers, all other make in Tennessee?
The median salary for food processing workers, all other in Tennessee is $42,690 a year, or $20.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food processing workers, all other make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of food processing workers, all other in Tennessee earn at least $50,610 a year. The top 25% earn $46,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for food processing workers, all other in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,900 a year, and a quarter of food processing workers, all other earn $37,710 or less.
How many food processing workers, all other work in Tennessee?
About 1,910 food processing workers, all other are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.