Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Indiana
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Indiana earn a median of $31,840 a year ($15.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,350 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,360. Indiana ranks 33rd of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.2 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $32,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,360 | $12.67 |
| 25th percentile | $28,720 | $13.81 |
| Median | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 75th percentile | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Average (mean) | $32,400 | $15.58 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,653.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,326.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,224.62 |
| Weekly | $612.31 |
| Hourly | $15.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,670 | 12,200 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 | 440 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $34,630 | 130 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,400 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,860 | 80 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,340 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,070 | 3,490 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $31,960 | 1,360 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,780 | 1,690 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,510 | 70 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,360 | 120 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,990 | 140 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Bartender | $22,770 | $10.95 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Indiana?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Indiana is $31,840 a year, or $15.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Indiana?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Indiana earn at least $38,350 a year. The top 25% earn $35,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,360 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,720 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Indiana?
About 3,900 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.