Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Indiana
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Indiana earn a median of $28,790 a year ($13.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 97,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,820 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $31,200. Indiana ranks 31st of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 30 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,110 | $10.63 |
| 25th percentile | $24,630 | $11.84 |
| Median | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| 75th percentile | $33,210 | $15.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| Average (mean) | $28,980 | $13.93 |
Half of fast food and counter workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,399.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,199.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,107.31 |
| Weekly | $553.65 |
| Hourly | $13.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,630 | 97,280 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29,720 | 30,950 |
| Kokomo, IN | $29,130 | 1,540 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $29,040 | 28,400 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $28,690 | 15,540 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,360 | 6,900 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,300 | 2,710 |
| Columbus, IN | $28,290 | 1,440 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,250 | 1,520 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,230 | 2,390 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,230 | 4,260 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $28,140 | 4,240 |
| Evansville, IN | $27,930 | 4,470 |
| Muncie, IN | $27,560 | 2,120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $27,020 | 2,700 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Bartender | $22,770 | $10.95 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| Dishwasher | $29,480 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,940 | $10.55 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Cooks, All Other | $44,290 | $21.30 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Indiana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter workers make in Indiana?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Indiana is $28,790 a year, or $13.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Indiana?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Indiana earn at least $35,820 a year. The top 25% earn $33,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,110 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $24,630 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Indiana?
About 97,290 fast food and counter workers are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.