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
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $567 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $24,128 ($2,011 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 →
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 →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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