Food Preparation Worker Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Food Preparation Workers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $30,490 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,809 take-home, or $2,151 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,479
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,890
- Medicare (1.45%)$442
- Indiana income tax$870
- Take-home pay$25,809
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $596 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,213 ($2,101 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,270 | $11.67 | $20,910 | $1,742 |
| 25th percentile | $27,800 | $13.37 | $23,713 | $1,976 |
| Median (50th) | $30,490 | $14.66 | $25,809 | $2,151 |
| 75th percentile | $36,520 | $17.56 | $30,476 | $2,540 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,490 | $20.43 | $35,097 | $2,925 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,490 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $25,809 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,970 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Indianapolis, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #54 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 54 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,490 | $25,809 | $26,970 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $30,490 a year, or about $14.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,800 and $36,520.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $30,490 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $25,809 a year ($2,151 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $870 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,970 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #54 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,350
- Dishwasher — $30,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,040
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,110
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,470
- Bartender — $22,880