BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Cooks Restaurant in Indiana

$34,150 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$16.42 per hour

▼ 11.8% below U.S. average43rd of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$34,150per year
Median$35,170per year
Hourly$16.42per hour
10th – 90th percentile$26,000 – $44,190per year

Cooks Restaurant Pay Range in Indiana

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$26,000
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$28,650
  • 50th Percentile — Median$35,170
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$37,590
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$44,190

Half of Cooks Restaurant in Indiana earn more than $35,170. The top 10% make $44,190 or more, while entry-level workers start around $26,000.

Cooks Restaurant in Indiana: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Indiana ranks 43rd of 51 states for Cooks Restaurant pay, at $34,150 per year (11.8% below the U.S. average of $38,730).
  • 26,960 people work as Cooks Restaurant in Indiana — 1.9% of all U.S. Cooks Restaurant jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.93: Cooks Restaurant jobs are less concentrated in Indiana than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $26,000; the top 10% earn over $44,190.
  • Hourly equivalent: $16.42 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Washington at $47,200.
  • Among hospitality jobs in Indiana, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($55,060).

Cooks Restaurant Job Market in Indiana

Key factors affecting compensation

Indiana's key industries are Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare, and its job market is rated moderate. Cooks Restaurant here earn $34,150 on average, placing the state 43rd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.85 (U.S. = 1.00), a Indiana salary of $34,150 is roughly equivalent to $40,176 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Carolina ($35,140), New Mexico ($35,070), Kansas ($34,900) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Restaurant weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Cooks Restaurant salary in Indiana?

The average Cooks Restaurant salary in Indiana is $34,150 per year (median $35,170), which is 11.8% below the national average of $38,730.

How does Indiana rank for Cooks Restaurant pay?

Indiana ranks 43rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($47,200/yr).

How much do entry-level Cooks Restaurant make in Indiana?

The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Restaurant in Indiana earn about $26,000 per year and the 25th percentile is $28,650.

How much do Cooks Restaurant make per hour in Indiana?

About $16.42 per hour, based on the $34,150 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Cooks Restaurant work in Indiana?

BLS counts 26,960 Cooks Restaurant jobs in Indiana (OEWS May 2025).

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