SOC 35-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers — Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
In Southern Indiana, IN the median wage is $27,720.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Southern Indiana, IN the median wage is $27,720. That is 18.4% lower than the national median of $33,980. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $22,780 and $30,580. The lowest tenth earn under $20,210, while the highest tenth earn more than $34,920.
The area has 470 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.68 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Lafayette leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,820. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 391st of 397 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,210 | −40.5% |
| 25th | $22,780 | −33.0% |
| Median (50th) | $27,720 | −18.4% |
| 75th | $30,580 | −10.0% |
| 90th | $34,920 | +2.8% |
| Mean | $27,430 | −19.3% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | $34,820 | 470 | |
| 2 | Bloomington | $29,660 | 370 | |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | $29,640 | 620 | |
| 4 | South Bend | $29,080 | 500 | |
| 5 | Elkhart | $28,450 | 330 | |
| 6 | Kokomo | $28,190 | 120 | |
| 7 | Indianapolis | $28,110 | 3,800 | |
| 8 | Columbus | $27,670 | 120 | |
| 9 | Evansville | $27,270 | 400 | |
| 10 | Terre Haute | $27,250 | 230 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $27,720 goes as far as $29,711 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,711US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,720 a year, 18.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,210 to $34,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 470 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lafayette, at $34,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Southern Indiana, IN?
The median annual wage is $27,720, or $13.33 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $33,980, so pay in Southern Indiana, IN is 18.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Southern Indiana, IN earns more than $34,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lafayette, at $34,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 470 jobs in this occupation in Southern Indiana, IN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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