SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Northern Indiana, IN is $28,470 a year, trailing the national median of $35,880 by 20.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Northern Indiana, IN is $28,470 a year, trailing the national median of $35,880 by 20.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $21,840 and $34,460. The lowest tenth earn under $21,840, while the highest tenth earn more than $44,500.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.44 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Fort Wayne records the highest median at $30,240. Of the 409 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 394th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,840 | −39.1% |
| 25th | $21,840 | −39.1% |
| Median (50th) | $28,470 | −20.7% |
| 75th | $34,460 | −4.0% |
| 90th | $44,500 | +24.0% |
| Mean | $30,230 | −15.7% |
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 | 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 Northern Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $28,470 goes as far as $30,514 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,514US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,470 a year, 20.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,840 to $44,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 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 Northern Indiana, IN?
The median annual wage is $28,470, or $13.69 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 Northern Indiana, IN is 20.7% 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 $44,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $21,840 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 80 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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