Food Preparation Workers pay in Indiana

In Indiana, the median pay for food preparation workers is $14.28 an hour ($29,700 a year). About 16,200 people work in this job there.

$14.28Median hourly pay

$27,550–$35,930Middle half of workers, yearly

16,200People in this job in Indiana

That is 16% lower than the U.S. median ($35,320). Indiana ranks 43rd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for food preparation workers in Indiana

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$11.14	$23,170
25% of workers	$13.25	$27,550
Half of workers (median)	$14.28	$29,700
75% of workers	$17.28	$35,930
90% of workers	$18.77	$39,050

Food Preparation Workers pay in Indiana metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
Elkhart-Goshen	$33,640	660
Columbus	$32,150	200
Fort Wayne	$30,850	900
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood	$30,490	4,870
Bloomington	$30,340	400
Kokomo	$30,160	230
South Bend-Mishawaka	$29,970	760
Lafayette-West Lafayette	$29,500	420
Michigan City-La Porte	$28,640	240
Terre Haute	$28,610	340
Evansville	$28,440	860
Muncie	$27,860	280

Indiana unemployment rate: 3.3% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for food preparation workers

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
Job outlook: -3% over ten years, declining · about 135,700 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Indiana

Job	Median yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers	$28,790
Cooks, Restaurant	$35,170
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	$35,980
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$28,320
Cooks, Fast Food	$29,870
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	$31,840
Bakers	$36,150
Cooks, Short Order	$21,940

Other job titles for this job

Diet AideNutrition AideCulinary WorkerCafeteria AideCatererCaterer HelperChicken and Fish ButcherCold Meat CookCook AideCrew Mess AttendantDeli ClerkDeli Slicer

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.