SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Elkhart
Elkhart-Goshen, IN · 7 metro areas compared
In Elkhart, IN the median wage is $28,430.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Elkhart, IN the median wage is $28,430. That is 20.8% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay ranges from under $20,010 at the tenth percentile to more than $33,980 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $21,090 to $29,740.
Employment stands at 70, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Fort Wayne records the highest median at $30,240. Of the 307 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 303rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,010 | −44.2% |
| 25th | $21,090 | −41.2% |
| Median (50th) | $28,430 | −20.8% |
| 75th | $29,740 | −17.1% |
| 90th | $33,980 | −5.3% |
| Mean | $26,210 | −27.0% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Wayne | $30,240 | 170 | |
| 2 | Bloomington | $29,030 | 60 | |
| 3 | Kokomo | $28,670 | 30 | |
| 4 | Michigan City | $28,390 | 40 | |
| 5 | Muncie | $28,030 | 50 | |
| 6 | Terre Haute | $21,940 | 50 | |
| 7 | Indianapolis | $21,440 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Elkhart run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $28,430 goes as far as $30,472 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,430as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,472US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,430 a year, 20.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,010 to $33,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Wayne, at $30,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Elkhart, IN?
The median annual wage is $28,430, or $13.67 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 $35,880, so pay in Elkhart, IN is 20.8% 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 Elkhart, IN earns more than $33,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,010 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 Fort Wayne, at $30,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Elkhart, 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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