Food Preparation Workers pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,490 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Indianapolis earn between $27,800 and $36,520.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $30KMedian
- $37K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,660 | $2,722 | $15.70 |
| Median | $30,490 | $2,541 | $14.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,800 | $2,317 | $13.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,520 | $3,043 | $17.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Indianapolis earn 3% more than the Indiana average ($31,560) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $32,660 | $30,490 | $24,270 | $42,490 | 4,870 |
| Indiana | $31,560 | $29,700 | $23,170 | $39,050 | 16,200 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $32,660, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $26,833 a year, or $2,236 a month and $1,032 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 Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $32,660 buys what about $34,129 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 2nd 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 Indianapolis: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Indianapolis?
$15.70 an hour on average, and $14.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $26,833 a year ($2,236 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,660. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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