Food Preparation Workers Salary in Indiana
In Indiana, food preparation workers earn a median $29,700 a year, well below the national median of $35,320 (−16%); the state ranks 43rd of 51 states by median. That is 38% less than the median across all occupations in Indiana ($47,860). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan pay more (up to $34,850 in Illinois) and Kentucky pays less (down to $26,850 in Kentucky). Indiana employs 16,200 food preparation workers, 5.06 per 1,000 jobs, the 20th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.88 is close to the national share.
Indiana vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $11.14 | $13.25 | $14.28 | $17.28 | $18.77 | $15.17 | 16,200 | 5.06 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $23,170 | $27,550 | $29,700 | $35,930 | $39,050 | $31,560 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 43rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 20th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.88
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.06
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Indiana's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Indiana
15 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Indiana publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $17.02 | $35,410 | $31,200 | $45,330 | 27,100 | 6.00 | 1.04 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $16.50 | $34,320 | $24,230 | $44,420 | 5,320 | 4.84 | 0.84 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $16.17 | $33,640 | $27,280 | $37,650 | 660 | 5.16 | 0.90 |
| Columbus, IN | $15.46 | $32,150 | $24,030 | $38,480 | 200 | 3.92 | 0.68 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $14.83 | $30,850 | $21,800 | $44,000 | 900 | 3.98 | 0.69 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $14.66 | $30,490 | $24,270 | $42,490 | 4,870 | 4.41 | 0.77 |
| Bloomington, IN | $14.59 | $30,340 | $23,210 | $37,650 | 400 | 5.45 | 0.95 |
| Kokomo, IN | $14.50 | $30,160 | $22,880 | $38,170 | 230 | 6.49 | 1.13 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $14.41 | $29,970 | $24,360 | $39,270 | 760 | 5.81 | 1.01 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $14.25 | $29,640 | $21,250 | $39,980 | 4,910 | 7.17 | 1.25 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $14.18 | $29,500 | $22,380 | $38,140 | 420 | 4.07 | 0.71 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $13.77 | $28,640 | $22,870 | $37,710 | 240 | 5.79 | 1.01 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $13.75 | $28,610 | $22,330 | $37,060 | 340 | 5.28 | 0.92 |
| Evansville, IN | $13.67 | $28,440 | $23,370 | $36,450 | 860 | 6.36 | 1.11 |
| Muncie, IN | $13.39 | $27,860 | $22,840 | $36,170 | 280 | 6.26 | 1.09 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $13.66 | $28,400 | $21,960 | $36,420 | 1,660 | 7.90 | 1.37 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $13.65 | $28,400 | $21,880 | $37,270 | 840 | 4.26 | 0.74 |
| Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $13.60 | $28,290 | $22,190 | $36,700 | 870 | 5.38 | 0.94 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Indiana wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Indiana estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.