Food Preparation Workers pay range in Bloomington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,650 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Bloomington earn between $27,130 and $36,010.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,230 | $2,602 | $15.01 |
| Median | $30,340 | $2,528 | $14.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,130 | $2,261 | $13.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,010 | $3,001 | $17.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Bloomington
On the average salary of $31,230, a single filer in Bloomington takes home about $25,719 a year, or $2,143 a month and $989 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Bloomington's local income tax (2.14%).
Is Bloomington a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bloomington area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.1), so the average $31,230 buys what about $32,845 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Bloomington ($47,660). A typical home costs $303,238, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Bloomington ranks 7th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Elkhart pays the most ($32,970).
- Elkhart$32,970
- Indianapolis$32,660
- Columbus$32,060
- Fort Wayne$31,840
- South Bend$31,810
- Kokomo$31,710
- Bloomington$31,230
- Lafayette$31,060
- Evansville$30,040
- Michigan City$30,030
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Bloomington: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Bloomington?
$15.02 an hour on average, and $14.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Bloomington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Bloomington?
About $25,719 a year ($2,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,230. Includes Bloomington's local income tax (2.14%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Bloomington than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Bloomington, IN (14020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Bloomington's local income tax (2.14%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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