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
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 #213 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 |
| 213 | 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 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Elkhart, IN — $33,640
- Fort Wayne, IN — $30,850
- South Bend, IN — $29,970
- Evansville, IN — $28,440
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 #213 of 254 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
- Chef and Head Cook — $49,010
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,350
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,960
- Dishwasher — $30,520
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,500
- 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