Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood

In Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood (IN), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $17.48 an hour ($36,350 a year). About 3,410 people work in this job there.

$17.48Median hourly pay
$31,840–$38,680Middle half of workers, yearly
3,410People in this job in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood (IN)

That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is about the same as the Indiana median ($35,980).

Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood (IN)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$14.25$29,640
25% of workers$15.31$31,840
Half of workers (median)$17.48$36,350
75% of workers$18.60$38,680
90% of workers$21.92$45,590

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Indiana metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Lafayette-West Lafayette$38,580260
Bloomington$37,230480
South Bend-Mishawaka$37,010440
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood (this page)$36,3503,410
Fort Wayne$36,300800
Kokomo$36,290120
Elkhart-Goshen$36,170320
Michigan City-La Porte$36,100120
Columbus$35,490110
Evansville$35,180520
Muncie$34,370190
Terre Haute$33,300240

Indiana unemployment rate: 3.3% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood (IN)

JobMedian yearly pay
Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,040
Cooks, Restaurant$36,610
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,590
Food Preparation Workers$30,490
Food Service Managers$75,730
Cooks, Fast Food$30,500
Bakers$36,870

Other job titles for this job

Food Service SpecialistCulinary SpecialistSous ChefBoarding House CookCafeteria CookCamp CookDietary CookDinner CookGalley CookInstitutional CookKitchen CookMess Cook

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.