SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Elkhart
Elkhart-Goshen, IN · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Elkhart, IN is $33,640 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Elkhart, IN is $33,640 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $27,280 at the tenth percentile to more than $37,650 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,450 to $36,410.
The area has 660 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 5.2 of every thousand jobs. Columbus leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $32,150. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 286th of 307 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,280 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $29,450 | −16.6% |
| Median (50th) | $33,640 | −4.8% |
| 75th | $36,410 | +3.1% |
| 90th | $37,650 | +6.6% |
| Mean | $32,970 | −6.7% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $32,150 | 200 | |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | $30,850 | 900 | |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $30,490 | 4,870 | |
| 4 | Bloomington | $30,340 | 400 | |
| 5 | Kokomo | $30,160 | 230 | |
| 6 | South Bend | $29,970 | 760 | |
| 7 | Lafayette | $29,500 | 420 | |
| 8 | Michigan City | $28,640 | 240 | |
| 9 | Terre Haute | $28,610 | 340 | |
| 10 | Evansville | $28,440 | 860 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Elkhart run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $33,640 goes as far as $36,056 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,056US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,640 a year, 4.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,280 to $37,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 660 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbus, at $32,150.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Elkhart, IN?
The median annual wage is $33,640, or $16.17 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 $35,320, so pay in Elkhart, IN is 4.8% 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 Elkhart, IN earns more than $37,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,280 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 Columbus, at $32,150 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 660 jobs in this occupation in Elkhart, 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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