Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in Indiana?
3.0% flat rate — 15.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $28,480 in Indiana (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $28,480 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,433 | 5.0% |
| Indiana State Income Tax | -$868 | 3.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,765 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$412 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$4,480 | 15.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $23,999 | 84.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $17,640 | -$2,191 | $15,448 | 12.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $20,870 | -$2,860 | $18,009 | 13.7% |
| Median (P50) | $28,480 | -$4,480 | $23,999 | 15.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $36,550 | -$6,312 | $30,237 | 17.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $48,350 | -$8,991 | $39,358 | 18.6% |
After federal income tax ($1,433), state tax ($868), and FICA ($2,178), a Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana takes home $23,999 per year — or $1,999 per month. The effective tax rate of 15.7% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana faces an effective total tax rate of only 15.7%, keeping 84.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $23,999 net out of $28,480 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Indiana applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Waiters and Waitresses salary that contributes $869 to the 3.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Waiters and Waitresses salary is $1,434 (32%), but combined state ($869, 19%) + FICA ($2,179, 49%) make up the other 68% of the bill.
A Waiters and Waitresses earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $24,868 — only $869 (3.6%) more than in Indiana.
Indiana ranks #37 of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $23,999 net/year works out to $2,000/month or $923/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Indiana ranks #37 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana earning a median salary of $28,480 will take home approximately $23,999 per year after federal income tax ($1,433), state income tax ($868), and FICA ($2,178). That is $1,999 per month or $923 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana is 15.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.0%, Indiana state tax 3.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Indiana has a 3.0% flat rate. On a Waiters and Waitresses's median salary of $28,480, the state income tax amounts to $868 per year, which is an effective state rate of 3.0%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana takes home approximately $1,999 per month, or about $11.54 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $28,480 for Waiters and Waitresses in Indiana, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Indiana state income tax (3.0% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $23,999/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR