How much does a food preparation worker make in Indianapolis?
$30,490a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. That is $14.66 an hour or $2,541 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.66
- Vs. national median
- -14%
- Rank among cities
- 259 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 4,870
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,270Median: $30,490Highest 10%: $42,490
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,270 | $11.67 | |
| 25th | $27,800 | $13.37 | |
| Median | $30,490 | $14.66 | |
| 75th | $36,520 | $17.56 | |
| 90th | $42,490 | $20.43 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Chicago, IL | $35,410 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $34,320 |
| Elkhart, IN | $33,640 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,150 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,850 |
| Bloomington, IN | $30,340 |
| Kokomo, IN | $30,160 |
| South Bend, IN | $29,970 |
| Louisville, KY | $29,640 |
| Lafayette, IN | $29,500 |
| Michigan City, IN | $28,640 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $28,610 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,440 |
| Muncie, IN | $27,860 |
Related jobs in Indianapolis
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $49,010 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,590 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,160 |
| Cook | $36,610 |
| Cook | $36,350 |
| Food Server | $31,960 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 |
| Cook | $30,500 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,050 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,040 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Indianapolis?
The median hourly pay in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $14.66 ($30,490 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Indianapolis than the national average?
No: $30,490 against $35,320 nationally, 14% less.
How does Indianapolis compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $29,700, so Indianapolis pays 3% more.
Where does Indianapolis rank for food preparation worker pay?
259 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,270 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,490 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.