Elkhart-Goshen, IN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

In the Elkhart-Goshen, IN metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $28,700 ($13.80/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,400/year and the 90th was $37,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Indiana tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,423 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 90.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$28,700$13.80 per hour · $2,392 monthly
10th Percentile$22,400$10.77/hr base
25th Percentile$26,700$12.84/hr base
75th Percentile$34,800$16.73/hr base
90th Percentile$37,800$18.17/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$28,700
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$28,700
Net 85%
Fed 4%
IN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,423After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,035Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$939Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,264 / yr
Indiana state income tax$817 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,196 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IN)
10th Percentile$10.77/hr$1,867$22,400$19,425
25th Percentile$12.84/hr$2,225$26,700$22,839
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.80/hr$2,392$28,700$24,423
75th Percentile$16.73/hr$2,900$34,800$29,145
90th Percentile$18.17/hr$3,150$37,800$31,467

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$28,700 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$68,561Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index90.39.7% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio41.9%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Indiana:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN is $28,700, which equates to approximately $2,392 per month or $13.80 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN is $13.80 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.77/hour and one in ten earned more than $18.17/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Elkhart-Goshen, IN span from $22,400 at the 10th percentile to $26,700 at the 25th, $34,800 at the 75th, and $37,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

On a median gross salary of $28,700, an estimated $24,423 lands in net take-home pay per year ($939 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Indiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,277 (an effective rate of 14.9%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

On the median annual salary of $28,700, gross monthly income is $2,392. After federal, FICA, and Indiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,035 per month (or $939 every two weeks).

Is $28,700 a good salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

At $28,700, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.9% of the Elkhart-Goshen, IN median household income ($68,561). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 90.3, making regional consumer goods and services 9.7% cheaper than the U.S. average.