Food Batchmakers Salary
Food Batchmakers in Tennessee make a median of $42,610 a year, or about $20.49 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $47,460 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 39.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Tennessee?
About food batchmakers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Food batchmakers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 40.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level food batchmakers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Food Batchmakers salary by metro in Tennessee
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $44K | +2% | 360 |
| Chattanooga | $43K | +2% | 250 |
| Knoxville | $43K | +1% | 250 |
| Jackson | $41K | -5% | 640 |
| Memphis | $38K | -11% | 550 |
Compare to other states
Track food batchmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food batchmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 40.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food batchmakers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food batchmakers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,091/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food batchmaker a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for food batchmakers?
Tennessee pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food batchmakers make in Tennessee?
The median is $42,610 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,850, and experienced food batchmakers can clear $56,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,023/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 40.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food batchmakers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food batchmakers salary is worth about $47,460 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food batchmakers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.