SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Columbus
Columbus, IN · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $35,490 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $35,490 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,450. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $29,760 and $36,620. The lowest tenth earn under $28,060, while the highest tenth earn more than $43,530.
The area has 110 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.76 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Lafayette records the highest median at $38,580. Of the 187 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 158th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,060 | −25.1% |
| 25th | $29,760 | −20.5% |
| Median (50th) | $35,490 | −5.2% |
| 75th | $36,620 | −2.2% |
| 90th | $43,530 | +16.2% |
| Mean | $34,930 | −6.7% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | $38,580 | 260 | |
| 2 | Bloomington | $37,230 | 480 | |
| 3 | South Bend | $37,010 | 440 | |
| 4 | Indianapolis | $36,350 | 3,410 | |
| 5 | Fort Wayne | $36,300 | 800 | |
| 6 | Kokomo | $36,290 | 120 | |
| 7 | Elkhart | $36,170 | 320 | |
| 8 | Michigan City | $36,100 | 120 | |
| 9 | Evansville | $35,180 | 520 | |
| 10 | Muncie | $34,370 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbus run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $35,490 goes as far as $38,039 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,039US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,490 a year, 5.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,060 to $43,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lafayette, at $38,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Columbus, IN?
The median annual wage is $35,490, or $17.06 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Columbus, IN is 5.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbus, IN earns more than $43,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,060 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lafayette, at $38,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Columbus, IN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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