Food Preparation Workers pay range in Fort Wayne
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,000 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Fort Wayne earn between $27,250 and $36,510.
- $22K10th
- $27K25th
- $31KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,840 | $2,653 | $15.31 |
| Median | $30,850 | $2,571 | $14.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,250 | $2,271 | $13.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,510 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Fort Wayne
On the average salary of $31,840, a single filer in Fort Wayne takes home about $26,348 a year, or $2,196 a month and $1,013 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Is Fort Wayne a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Wayne area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $31,840 buys what about $34,395 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Wayne ($47,700). A typical home costs $259,816, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Fort Wayne ranks 4th 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Fort Wayne: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Fort Wayne?
$15.31 an hour on average, and $14.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Fort Wayne?
About $26,348 a year ($2,196 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,840. Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Fort Wayne than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Fort Wayne, IN (23060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.