Food Preparation Workers salary
in Fort Wayne, IN
- Middle 50%
- $27,250–$36,510
- vs U.S. median
- -13%
- Metro rank
- #288 of 496
Food Preparation Workers in the Fort Wayne, IN metro earn a median of $30,850 a year, based on BLS estimates for 900 jobs (May 2025). That is 13% below the U.S. median of $35,320 and 4% above the IN statewide median of $29,700. It ranks #288 of 496 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE900 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Food Preparation Workers pay in other IN metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,640 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,150 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,490 |
| Bloomington, IN | $30,340 |
| Kokomo, IN | $30,160 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,970 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,500 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,640 |
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RELATED JOBS IN FORT WAYNE
Questions
What is the average Food Preparation Workers salary in Fort Wayne?
The BLS median is $30,850 a year (May 2025). Half of the 900 jobs pay between $27,250 and $36,510. The 10th percentile is $21,800 and the 90th is $44,000.
Is Fort Wayne a high-paying metro for Food Preparation Workers?
That is 13% below the U.S. median of $35,320 and 4% above the IN statewide median of $29,700. It ranks #288 of 496 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Food Preparation Workers make an hour in Fort Wayne?
About $14.83 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $30,850 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $13.10–$17.55 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.