SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Northern Indiana, IN is $34,780 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Northern Indiana, IN is $34,780 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $28,750 at the tenth percentile to more than $38,590 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,440 to $36,440.
Employment stands at 810, or 3.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Lafayette leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 367th of 409 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,750 | −23.2% |
| 25th | $30,440 | −18.7% |
| Median (50th) | $34,780 | −7.1% |
| 75th | $36,440 | −2.7% |
| 90th | $38,590 | +3.0% |
| Mean | $34,180 | −8.7% |
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 | Columbus | $35,490 | 110 | |
| 10 | Evansville | $35,180 | 520 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northern Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $34,780 goes as far as $37,278 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,278US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,780 a year, 7.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,750 to $38,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 810 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 Northern Indiana, IN?
The median annual wage is $34,780, or $16.72 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 Northern Indiana, IN is 7.1% 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 Northern Indiana, IN earns more than $38,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,750 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 810 jobs in this occupation in Northern Indiana, 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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