Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Indiana
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Indiana earn a median of $35,980 a year ($17.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,760 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,450. Indiana ranks 36th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 3.5 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,910, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| 25th percentile | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| Median | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| 75th percentile | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Average (mean) | $35,910 | $17.26 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,998.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,499.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,383.85 |
| Weekly | $691.92 |
| Hourly | $17.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $38,580 | 260 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,290 | 14,010 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,370 | 2,700 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,230 | 480 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,180 | 4,310 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $37,010 | 440 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,350 | 3,410 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $36,300 | 800 |
| Kokomo, IN | $36,290 | 120 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,170 | 320 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $36,100 | 120 |
| Columbus, IN | $35,490 | 110 |
| Evansville, IN | $35,180 | 520 |
| Muncie, IN | $34,370 | 190 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,300 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Indiana?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indiana is $35,980 a year, or $17.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Indiana?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indiana earn at least $44,760 a year. The top 25% earn $38,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,280 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $31,080 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Indiana?
About 11,130 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.