SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Southern Indiana, IN is $28,120 per year, 21.6% below the national median of $35,880.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Southern Indiana, IN is $28,120 per year, 21.6% below the national median of $35,880. Half of workers earn between $21,840 and $33,220. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $20,290 and the ninetieth at $39,590.
Employment stands at 90, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Fort Wayne records the highest median at $30,240. Of the 397 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 387th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,290 | −43.5% |
| 25th | $21,840 | −39.1% |
| Median (50th) | $28,120 | −21.6% |
| 75th | $33,220 | −7.4% |
| 90th | $39,590 | +10.3% |
| Mean | $29,060 | −19.0% |
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 | 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 Southern Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $28,120 goes as far as $30,139 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,139US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,120 a year, 21.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,290 to $39,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 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 Southern Indiana, IN?
The median annual wage is $28,120, or $13.52 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 Southern Indiana, IN is 21.6% 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 Southern Indiana, IN earns more than $39,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,290 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 90 jobs in this occupation in Southern 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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