Cooks, Restaurant pay in Indiana
In Indiana, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.91 an hour ($35,170 a year). About 26,960 people work in this job there.
That is 6% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). Indiana ranks 41st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Indiana
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $12.50 | $26,000 |
| 25% of workers | $13.77 | $28,650 |
| Half of workers (median) | $16.91 | $35,170 |
| 75% of workers | $18.07 | $37,590 |
| 90% of workers | $21.25 | $44,190 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Indiana metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $36,610 | 9,180 |
| Kokomo | $35,300 | 370 |
| Bloomington | $34,910 | 930 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $34,870 | 930 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $34,650 | 1,300 |
| Fort Wayne | $34,490 | 2,030 |
| Evansville | $34,290 | 1,330 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $33,770 | 640 |
| Muncie | $30,050 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $29,860 | 490 |
| Terre Haute | $29,830 | 600 |
| Columbus | $29,740 | 360 |
Indiana unemployment rate: 3.3% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $29,700 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,980 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,870 |
| Food Batchmakers | $39,700 |
| Bakers | $36,150 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,940 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,190 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $42,440 |
Other job titles for this job
Open cooks, restaurant jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring cooks, restaurant? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: 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.