SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Indiana
Indiana · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay in Indiana is $21,940 a year, 38.9% under the national median of $35,880 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Indiana is $21,940 a year, 38.9% under the national median of $35,880 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $21,440 and $31,240. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $20,760 and the ninetieth at $36,260.
The area has 2,940 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Indiana ranks 48th by median wage. Fort Wayne leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $30,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 753rd of 753 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,760 | −42.1% |
| 25th | $21,440 | −40.2% |
| Median (50th) | $21,940 | −38.9% |
| 75th | $31,240 | −12.9% |
| 90th | $36,260 | +1.1% |
| Mean | $26,850 | −25.2% |
Highest-paying 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 | Elkhart | $28,430 | 70 | |
| 5 | Michigan City | $28,390 | 40 | |
| 6 | Muncie | $28,030 | 50 | |
| 7 | Terre Haute | $21,940 | 50 | |
| 8 | Indianapolis | $21,440 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $21,940 goes as far as $23,516 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 34.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$21,940as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$23,516US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $21,940 a year, 38.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,760 to $36,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,940 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 49 states for 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 Indiana?
The median annual wage is $21,940, or $10.55 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 Indiana is 38.9% 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 $36,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,760 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 2,940 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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