SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Indiana
Indiana · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Indiana is $29,700 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 15.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Indiana is $29,700 a year, trailing the national median of $35,320 by 15.9%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $27,550 and $35,930. The lowest tenth earn under $23,170, while the highest tenth earn more than $39,050.
The area has 16,200 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.88 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Indiana ranks number 43rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Elkhart records the highest median at $33,640. Of the 753 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 733rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,170 | −34.4% |
| 25th | $27,550 | −22.0% |
| Median (50th) | $29,700 | −15.9% |
| 75th | $35,930 | +1.7% |
| 90th | $39,050 | +10.6% |
| Mean | $31,560 | −10.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elkhart | $33,640 | 660 | |
| 2 | Columbus | $32,150 | 200 | |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | $30,850 | 900 | |
| 4 | Indianapolis | $30,490 | 4,870 | |
| 5 | Bloomington | $30,340 | 400 | |
| 6 | Kokomo | $30,160 | 230 | |
| 7 | South Bend | $29,970 | 760 | |
| 8 | Lafayette | $29,500 | 420 | |
| 9 | Michigan City | $28,640 | 240 | |
| 10 | Terre Haute | $28,610 | 340 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $29,700 goes as far as $31,833 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,833US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,700 a year, 15.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,170 to $39,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 16,200 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elkhart, at $33,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $29,700, or $14.28 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 Indiana is 15.9% 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 Indiana earns more than $39,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,170 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 Elkhart, at $33,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 16,200 jobs in this occupation in Indiana. 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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