Cooks, Restaurant salary in Indiana
Cooks, Restaurant in Indiana earn a median of $35,170 a year ($16.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 26,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,190 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,390. Indiana ranks 41st of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.4 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,150, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,000 | $12.50 |
| 25th percentile | $28,650 | $13.77 |
| Median | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| 75th percentile | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Average (mean) | $34,150 | $16.42 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,930.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,465.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,352.69 |
| Weekly | $676.35 |
| Hourly | $16.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,610 | 9,180 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Kokomo, IN | $35,300 | 370 |
| Bloomington, IN | $34,910 | 930 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $34,870 | 930 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $34,650 | 1,300 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 | 2,030 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,290 | 1,330 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,770 | 640 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,050 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,860 | 490 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 | 600 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,740 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Indiana?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Indiana is $35,170 a year, or $16.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Indiana?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Indiana earn at least $44,190 a year. The top 25% earn $37,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,000 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,650 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Indiana?
About 26,960 cooks, restaurant are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.