SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Muncie
Muncie, IN · 10 metro areas compared
In Muncie, IN the median wage is $30,050.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Muncie, IN the median wage is $30,050. That is 19.6% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay ranges from under $26,230 at the tenth percentile to more than $37,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $27,840 to $35,730.
The area has 460 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.14 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Indianapolis records the highest median at $36,610. Of the 192 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 175th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,230 | −29.8% |
| 25th | $27,840 | −25.5% |
| Median (50th) | $30,050 | −19.6% |
| 75th | $35,730 | −4.4% |
| 90th | $37,170 | −0.6% |
| Mean | $31,620 | −15.4% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis | $36,610 | 9,180 | |
| 2 | Kokomo | $35,300 | 370 | |
| 3 | Bloomington | $34,910 | 930 | |
| 4 | Lafayette | $34,870 | 930 | |
| 5 | South Bend | $34,650 | 1,300 | |
| 6 | Fort Wayne | $34,490 | 2,030 | |
| 7 | Evansville | $34,290 | 1,330 | |
| 8 | Elkhart | $33,770 | 640 | |
| 9 | Michigan City | $29,860 | 490 | |
| 10 | Terre Haute | $29,830 | 600 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Muncie run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $30,050 goes as far as $32,208 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,050as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,208US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,050 a year, 19.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,230 to $37,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 460 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Indianapolis, at $36,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Muncie, IN?
The median annual wage is $30,050, or $14.45 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 $37,390, so pay in Muncie, IN is 19.6% 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 Muncie, IN earns more than $37,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,230 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 Indianapolis, at $36,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 460 jobs in this occupation in Muncie, 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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