Food Preparation Worker Salary in Fort Wayne, IN
Food Preparation Workers in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area earn a median $30,850 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,087 take-home, or $2,174 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Fort Wayne, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,522
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,913
- Medicare (1.45%)$447
- Indiana income tax$881
- Take-home pay$26,087
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Fort Wayne, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,800 | $10.48 | $18,949 | $1,579 |
| 25th percentile | $27,250 | $13.10 | $23,276 | $1,940 |
| Median (50th) | $30,850 | $14.83 | $26,087 | $2,174 |
| 75th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 | $30,468 | $2,539 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,000 | $21.15 | $36,266 | $3,022 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,850 buys in Fort Wayne, IN
Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,087 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,181 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 Fort Wayne, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Wayne, IN ranks #171 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 |
| 171 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,850 | $26,087 | $28,181 |
*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
- Elkhart, IN — $33,640
- 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 Fort Wayne, IN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area is $30,850 a year, or about $14.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,250 and $36,510.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Fort Wayne, IN?
On the median $30,850 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $26,087 a year ($2,174 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $881 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Wayne, IN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,181 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Wayne, IN ranks #171 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Fort Wayne, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fort Wayne, IN is $906 a month ($1,105 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 Fort Wayne, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,300
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,190
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,490
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,640
- Dishwasher — $28,710
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,650
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,360
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $25,920
- Bartender — $23,010