SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN · 9 metro areas compared
At $35,190, median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Fort Wayne, IN tracks the national median of $35,360 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,190, median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Fort Wayne, IN tracks the national median of $35,360 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,740 and $38,960. The lowest tenth earn under $26,260, while the highest tenth earn more than $47,850.
Employment stands at 440, or 2.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Elkhart leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,630. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 403rd of 442 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,260 | −25.7% |
| 25th | $28,740 | −18.7% |
| Median (50th) | $35,190 | −0.5% |
| 75th | $38,960 | +10.2% |
| 90th | $47,850 | +35.3% |
| Mean | $35,150 | −0.6% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elkhart | $34,630 | 130 | |
| 2 | Terre Haute | $33,400 | 120 | |
| 3 | Kokomo | $32,860 | 80 | |
| 4 | Columbus | $32,340 | 40 | |
| 5 | Indianapolis | $31,960 | 1,360 | |
| 6 | Muncie | $30,510 | 70 | |
| 7 | Evansville | $30,360 | 120 | |
| 8 | Lafayette | $29,990 | 140 | |
| 9 | South Bend | $29,800 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Wayne run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $35,190 goes as far as $37,717 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,717US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,190 a year, 0.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,260 to $47,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 440 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elkhart, at $34,630.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median annual wage is $35,190, or $16.92 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 $35,360, so pay in Fort Wayne, IN is 0.5% 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 Fort Wayne, IN earns more than $47,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,260 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 $34,630 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 440 jobs in this occupation in Fort Wayne, 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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