Cooks, Short Order salary in Indiana
Cooks, Short Order in Indiana earn a median of $21,940 a year ($10.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,260 for the top 10%. That is 39% lower than the national median of $35,880. Indiana ranks 48th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.92 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $26,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,760 | $9.98 |
| 25th percentile | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| Median | $21,940 | $10.55 |
| 75th percentile | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Average (mean) | $26,850 | $12.91 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $1,828.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $914.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $843.85 |
| Weekly | $421.92 |
| Hourly | $10.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,180 | 580 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,240 | 170 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,630 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,030 | 60 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,670 | 30 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,430 | 70 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,390 | 40 |
| Muncie, IN | $28,030 | 50 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,940 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $21,440 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
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, Fast Food | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Indiana?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Indiana is $21,940 a year, or $10.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Indiana?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Indiana earn at least $36,260 a year. The top 25% earn $31,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,760 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $21,440 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Indiana?
About 2,940 cooks, short order are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.