Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Indiana
Chefs and Head Cooks in Indiana earn a median of $52,190 a year ($25.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,430 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $62,470. Indiana ranks 45th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.61 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $55,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,930 | $14.87 |
| 25th percentile | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| Median | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| 75th percentile | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,430 | $39.63 |
| Average (mean) | $55,060 | $26.47 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,349.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,174.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,007.31 |
| Weekly | $1,003.65 |
| Hourly | $25.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,180 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 | 100 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 | 120 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,010 | 960 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $40,300 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $37,920 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Bartender | $22,770 | $10.95 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,920 | $12.94 |
| Dishwasher | $29,480 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,940 | $10.55 |
| Cooks, All Other | $44,290 | $21.30 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Indiana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Indiana?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Indiana is $52,190 a year, or $25.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Indiana?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Indiana earn at least $82,430 a year. The top 25% earn $64,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,930 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $39,110 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Indiana?
About 1,940 chefs and head cooks are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.