Cooks, Fast Food salary in Indiana
Cooks, Fast Food in Indiana earn a median of $29,870 a year ($14.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,310 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $30,890. Indiana ranks 31st of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 2.1 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $30,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,050 | $11.56 |
| 25th percentile | $28,440 | $13.67 |
| Median | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| 75th percentile | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Average (mean) | $30,720 | $14.77 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,489.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,244.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,148.85 |
| Weekly | $574.42 |
| Hourly | $14.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,360 | 10,460 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,500 | 2,260 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,540 | 270 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,540 | 560 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,290 | 190 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $28,930 | 4,930 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $27,800 | 180 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $26,990 | 5,060 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,940 | $10.55 |
| Cooks, All Other | $44,290 | $21.30 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Bartender | $22,770 | $10.95 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,190 | $25.09 |
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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Indiana?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Indiana is $29,870 a year, or $14.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Indiana?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Indiana earn at least $37,310 a year. The top 25% earn $35,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,050 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,440 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Indiana?
About 6,830 cooks, fast food are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.