Waiter and Waitress Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $29,050 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,694 take-home, or $2,058 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,306
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,801
- Medicare (1.45%)$421
- Indiana income tax$827
- Take-home pay$24,694
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,070 | $8.69 | $15,987 | $1,332 |
| 25th percentile | $21,040 | $10.12 | $18,345 | $1,529 |
| Median (50th) | $29,050 | $13.97 | $24,694 | $2,058 |
| 75th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 | $30,902 | $2,575 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,380 | $23.74 | $40,430 | $3,369 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,050 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 waiter and waitress's $24,694 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,805 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #108 of 148 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 108 | Indianapolis, IN | $29,050 | $24,694 | $25,805 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Fort Wayne, IN — $28,650
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $29,050 a year, or about $13.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,040 and $37,070.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $29,050 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $24,694 a year ($2,058 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $827 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,805 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #108 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 60% of a median waiter and waitress’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
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,490
- 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