Food Preparation Workers pay range in Evansville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,450 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Evansville earn between $25,910 and $35,260.
- $23K10th
- $26K25th
- $28KMedian
- $35K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,040 | $2,503 | $14.44 |
| Median | $28,440 | $2,370 | $13.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,910 | $2,159 | $12.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,260 | $2,938 | $16.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Evansville vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Evansville earn 5% less than the Indiana average ($31,560) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $30,040 | $28,440 | $23,370 | $36,450 | 860 |
| Indiana | $31,560 | $29,700 | $23,170 | $39,050 | 16,200 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Evansville
On the average salary of $30,040, a single filer in Evansville takes home about $25,083 a year, or $2,090 a month and $965 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Evansville's local income tax (1.25%).
Is Evansville a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Evansville area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $30,040 buys what about $32,821 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Evansville ($46,540). A typical home costs $226,753, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Evansville ranks 9th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Elkhart pays the most ($32,970).
- Elkhart$32,970
- Indianapolis$32,660
- Columbus$32,060
- Fort Wayne$31,840
- South Bend$31,810
- Kokomo$31,710
- Bloomington$31,230
- Lafayette$31,060
- Evansville$30,040
- Michigan City$30,030
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Evansville: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Evansville?
$14.44 an hour on average, and $13.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Evansville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Evansville?
About $25,083 a year ($2,090 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,040. Includes Evansville's local income tax (1.25%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Evansville than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Evansville, IN (21780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Evansville's local income tax (1.25%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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