Waiters and Waitresses Pay Range in Indiana
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$17,640
- 25th Percentile — Junior$20,870
- 50th Percentile — Median$28,480
- 75th Percentile — Senior$36,550
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$48,350
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana earn more than $28,480. The top 10% make $48,350 or more, while entry-level workers start around $17,640.
Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Indiana ranks 37th of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses pay, at $31,170 per year (22.2% below the U.S. average of $40,060).
- 43,620 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana — 1.9% of all U.S. Waiters and Waitresses jobs.
- Location quotient 0.93: Waiters and Waitresses jobs are less concentrated in Indiana than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $17,640; the top 10% earn over $48,350.
- Hourly equivalent: $14.99 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,260.
- Among hospitality jobs in Indiana, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($55,060).
Waiters and Waitresses Job Market in Indiana
Key factors affecting compensation
Indiana's key industries are Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare, and its job market is rated moderate. Waiters and Waitresses here earn $31,170 on average, placing the state 37th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.85 (U.S. = 1.00), a Indiana salary of $31,170 is roughly equivalent to $36,671 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kentucky ($35,410), Idaho ($35,320), Wisconsin ($34,570) are the closest alternatives for Waiters and Waitresses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Indiana
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $55,060/yr Indiana +76.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $46,380/yr Indiana +48.8% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,910/yr Indiana +15.2% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $34,150/yr Indiana +9.6% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $30,720/yr Indiana 1.4% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,980/yr Indiana 7.0% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $28,590/yr Indiana 8.3% vs this role
- Bartenders $27,780/yr Indiana 10.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Indiana?
The average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Indiana is $31,170 per year (median $28,480), which is 22.2% below the national average of $40,060.
How does Indiana rank for Waiters and Waitresses pay?
Indiana ranks 37th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Waiters and Waitresses make in Indiana?
The lowest-paid 10% of Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana earn about $17,640 per year and the 25th percentile is $20,870.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Indiana?
About $14.99 per hour, based on the $31,170 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Waiters and Waitresses work in Indiana?
BLS counts 43,620 Waiters and Waitresses jobs in Indiana (OEWS May 2025).
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