How much does a chef and head cook make in Indianapolis?
$49,010a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. That is $23.56 an hour or $4,084 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.56
- Vs. national median
- -22%
- Rank among cities
- 280 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 960
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,930Median: $49,010Highest 10%: $78,310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,930 | $14.87 | |
| 25th | $30,940 | $14.88 | |
| Median | $49,010 | $23.56 | |
| 75th | $63,780 | $30.66 | |
| 90th | $78,310 | $37.65 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 |
| Chicago, IL | $60,770 |
| South Bend, IN | $57,180 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $56,620 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 |
| Louisville, KY | $46,310 |
| Lafayette, IN | $40,300 |
Related jobs in Indianapolis
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,590 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,160 |
| Cook | $36,610 |
| Cook | $36,350 |
| Food Server | $31,960 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 |
| Cook | $30,500 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,490 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $29,050 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,040 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Indianapolis?
The median hourly pay in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $23.56 ($49,010 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Indianapolis than the national average?
No: $49,010 against $62,470 nationally, 22% less.
How does Indianapolis compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $52,190, so Indianapolis pays 6% less.
Where does Indianapolis rank for chef and head cook pay?
280 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,930 or less a year; the top 10% make $78,310 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.