How much does a waiter and waitress make in Indianapolis?
$29,050a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. That is $13.97 an hour or $2,421 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.97
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 245 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 15,830
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $18,070Median: $29,050Highest 10%: $49,380
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,070 | $8.69 | |
| 25th | $21,040 | $10.12 | |
| Median | $29,050 | $13.97 | |
| 75th | $37,070 | $17.82 | |
| 90th | $49,380 | $23.74 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,530 |
| Chicago, IL | $31,200 |
| Louisville, KY | $30,180 |
| South Bend, IN | $28,740 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,550 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,540 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,420 |
| Lafayette, IN | $28,420 |
| Michigan City, IN | $28,260 |
| Elkhart, IN | $28,060 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $26,520 |
| Columbus, IN | $26,340 |
| Muncie, IN | $23,720 |
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 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,490 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,040 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Indianapolis?
The median hourly pay in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $13.97 ($29,050 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Indianapolis than the national average?
No: $29,050 against $35,230 nationally, 18% less.
How does Indianapolis compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $28,480, so Indianapolis pays 2% more.
Where does Indianapolis rank for waiter and waitress pay?
245 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $18,070 or less a year; the top 10% make $49,380 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.