SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Indiana
Indiana · 10 metro areas compared
In Indiana the median wage is $28,480.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Indiana the median wage is $28,480. That is 19.2% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay ranges from under $17,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,350 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $20,870 to $36,550.
Employment stands at 43,620, or 13.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Indiana ranks number 36th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Indianapolis records the highest median at $29,050. Of the 753 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 741st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,640 | −49.9% |
| 25th | $20,870 | −40.8% |
| Median (50th) | $28,480 | −19.2% |
| 75th | $36,550 | +3.7% |
| 90th | $48,350 | +37.2% |
| Mean | $31,170 | −11.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis | $29,050 | 15,830 | |
| 2 | South Bend | $28,740 | 1,970 | |
| 3 | Fort Wayne | $28,650 | 3,150 | |
| 4 | Evansville | $28,550 | 2,070 | |
| 5 | Bloomington | $28,540 | 1,620 | |
| 6 | Kokomo | $28,420 | 690 | |
| 7 | Lafayette | $28,420 | 1,490 | |
| 8 | Michigan City | $28,260 | 680 | |
| 9 | Elkhart | $28,060 | 1,070 | |
| 10 | Terre Haute | $26,520 | 1,050 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $28,480 goes as far as $30,525 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,480as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,525US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,480 a year, 19.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,640 to $48,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 43,620 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Indianapolis, at $29,050.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $28,480, or $13.69 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 $35,230, so pay in Indiana is 19.2% 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 $48,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,640 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 $29,050 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 43,620 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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