SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Indianapolis
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN · 9 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Indianapolis, IN is $31,960 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 9.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Indianapolis, IN is $31,960 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 9.6%. Half of workers earn between $28,720 and $36,750. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,400 and the ninetieth at $38,720.
The area has 1,360 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Fort Wayne leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 596th of 621 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,400 | −22.5% |
| 25th | $28,720 | −18.8% |
| Median (50th) | $31,960 | −9.6% |
| 75th | $36,750 | +3.9% |
| 90th | $38,720 | +9.5% |
| Mean | $32,810 | −7.2% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne | $35,190 | 440 | |
| 2 | Elkhart | $34,630 | 130 | |
| 3 | Terre Haute | $33,400 | 120 | |
| 4 | Kokomo | $32,860 | 80 | |
| 5 | Columbus | $32,340 | 40 | |
| 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 Indianapolis run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $31,960 goes as far as $34,255 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$31,960as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,255US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $31,960 a year, 9.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,400 to $38,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,360 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Wayne, at $35,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Indianapolis, IN?
The median annual wage is $31,960, or $15.37 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 Indianapolis, IN is 9.6% 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 Indianapolis, IN earns more than $38,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,400 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 Fort Wayne, at $35,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,360 jobs in this occupation in Indianapolis, 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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