Food Preparation Worker Salary in Elkhart, IN
Food Preparation Workers in the Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro area earn a median $33,640 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,247 take-home, or $2,354 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Elkhart, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,857
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,086
- Medicare (1.45%)$488
- Indiana income tax$963
- Take-home pay$28,247
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Elkhart, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,280 | $13.12 | $23,300 | $1,942 |
| 25th percentile | $29,450 | $14.16 | $25,004 | $2,084 |
| Median (50th) | $33,640 | $16.17 | $28,247 | $2,354 |
| 75th percentile | $36,410 | $17.50 | $30,391 | $2,533 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,650 | $18.10 | $31,351 | $2,613 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,640 buys in Elkhart, IN
Prices in Elkhart, IN are 9.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 36% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,247 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,272 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 about as common in Elkhart, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Elkhart, IN ranks #47 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 47 | Elkhart, IN | $33,640 | $28,247 | $31,272 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Fort Wayne, IN — $30,850
- South Bend, IN — $29,970
- Indianapolis, IN — $30,490
- Evansville, IN — $28,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Elkhart, IN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro area is $33,640 a year, or about $16.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,450 and $36,410.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Elkhart, IN?
On the median $33,640 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $28,247 a year ($2,354 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $963 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Elkhart, IN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 9.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,272 would in a typical U.S. city. Elkhart, IN ranks #47 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Elkhart, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Elkhart, IN is $992 a month ($1,183 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Elkhart, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,770
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,300
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,060