Food Preparation Workers pay range in Muncie
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,170 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Muncie earn between $26,310 and $32,970.
- $23K10th
- $26K25th
- $28KMedian
- $33K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,350 | $2,446 | $14.11 |
| Median | $27,860 | $2,322 | $13.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,310 | $2,192 | $12.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,970 | $2,748 | $15.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Muncie vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Muncie earn 7% less than the Indiana average ($31,560) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie | $29,350 | $27,860 | $22,840 | $36,170 | 280 |
| 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 Muncie
On the average salary of $29,350, a single filer in Muncie takes home about $24,487 a year, or $2,041 a month and $942 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 Muncie's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Muncie a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Muncie area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.1), so the average $29,350 buys what about $33,296 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Muncie ($44,110). A typical home costs $171,820, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Muncie ranks 12th 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
- Muncie$29,350
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 Muncie: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Muncie?
$14.11 an hour on average, and $13.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Muncie?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Muncie?
About $24,487 a year ($2,041 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,350. Includes Muncie's local income tax (1.5%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Muncie than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Muncie, IN (34620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 Muncie's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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