SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — Indiana
Indiana · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Indiana is $38,160 per year, close to the national median of $35,840 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Indiana is $38,160 per year, close to the national median of $35,840 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $25,880 and $38,400. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $19,390 and the ninetieth at $40,040.
Indiana ranks number 7th out of 44 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Indianapolis records the highest median at $38,160. Of the 753 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 654th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,390 | −45.9% |
| 25th | $25,880 | −27.8% |
| Median (50th) | $38,160 | +6.5% |
| 75th | $38,400 | +7.1% |
| 90th | $40,040 | +11.7% |
| Mean | $33,090 | −7.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis | $38,160 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $38,160 goes as far as $40,900 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,900US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,160 a year, 6.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $19,390 to $40,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 7th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Indianapolis, at $38,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $38,160, or $18.35 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 $35,840, so pay in Indiana is 6.5% higher. 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 Indiana earns more than $40,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $19,390 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 Indianapolis, at $38,160 per year.
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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