SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Indiana
Indiana · 10 metro areas compared
At $35,980, median pay for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Indiana tracks the national median of $37,450 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,980, median pay for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Indiana tracks the national median of $37,450 closely. Pay ranges from under $29,280 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,760 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $31,080 to $38,480.
The area has 11,130 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.23 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Indiana ranks number 36th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lafayette records the highest median at $38,580. Of the 753 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 694th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,280 | −21.8% |
| 25th | $31,080 | −17.0% |
| Median (50th) | $35,980 | −3.9% |
| 75th | $38,480 | +2.8% |
| 90th | $44,760 | +19.5% |
| Mean | $35,910 | −4.1% |
Highest-paying 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 | Columbus | $35,490 | 110 | |
| 10 | Evansville | $35,180 | 520 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $35,980 goes as far as $38,564 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,564US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,980 a year, 3.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,280 to $44,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 11,130 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 51 states for 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 Indiana?
The median annual wage is $35,980, or $17.30 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 Indiana is 3.9% 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 Indiana earns more than $44,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,280 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 11,130 jobs in this occupation in Indiana. 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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