Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Tennessee

Food cooking machine operators and tenders in Tennessee earn the most in Memphis (average $47,990 a year) and the least in Nashville ($45,260), across the 3 Tennessee metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the food cooking machine operators and tenders average at $46,920 and the median at $45,620 for 1,820 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $42,570.

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders average salary by city in Tennessee

Memphis$47,990
Knoxville$46,030
Nashville$45,260

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Memphis	$47,990	$55,270	$38,240	$40,740	92
Knoxville	$46,030	$41,200	$41,200	$39,165	93
Nashville	$45,260	$45,340	$37,870	$38,546	96

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; Tennessee has no state income tax. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in other states

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary by city and state

More about pay in Tennessee

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-3093.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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