Cooks, Restaurant pay in Fort Wayne

In Fort Wayne (IN), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $16.58 an hour ($34,490 a year). About 2,030 people work in this job there.

$16.58Median hourly pay
$28,670–$36,500Middle half of workers, yearly
2,030People in this job in Fort Wayne (IN)

That is 8% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 2% lower than the Indiana median ($35,170).

Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Fort Wayne (IN)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$12.50$26,000
25% of workers$13.78$28,670
Half of workers (median)$16.58$34,490
75% of workers$17.55$36,500
90% of workers$19.16$39,860

Cooks, Restaurant pay in Indiana metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood$36,6109,180
Kokomo$35,300370
Bloomington$34,910930
Lafayette-West Lafayette$34,870930
South Bend-Mishawaka$34,6501,300
Fort Wayne (this page)$34,4902,030
Evansville$34,2901,330
Elkhart-Goshen$33,770640
Muncie$30,050460
Michigan City-La Porte$29,860490
Terre Haute$29,830600
Columbus$29,740360

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)

Other job titles for this job

CookFRY CookGrill CookLine CookSpecialty CookPrep CookBack Line CookBanquet CookBreakfast CookForeign Food Specialty CookHotel CookLarder 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.