How much does a cook make in Fort Wayne?
$36,300a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area. That is $17.45 an hour or $3,025 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.45
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 214 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 800
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,590Median: $36,300Highest 10%: $48,320
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,590 | $14.23 | |
| 25th | $32,460 | $15.61 | |
| Median | $36,300 | $17.45 | |
| 75th | $38,700 | $18.61 | |
| 90th | $48,320 | $23.23 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Lafayette, IN | $38,580 |
| Chicago, IL | $38,290 |
| Louisville, KY | $37,370 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,230 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $37,180 |
| South Bend, IN | $37,010 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $36,350 |
| Kokomo, IN | $36,290 |
| Elkhart, IN | $36,170 |
| Michigan City, IN | $36,100 |
| Columbus, IN | $35,490 |
| Evansville, IN | $35,180 |
| Muncie, IN | $34,370 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,300 |
Related jobs in Fort Wayne
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $49,490 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,500 |
| Food Server | $35,190 |
| Cook | $34,490 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,850 |
| Cook | $30,240 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,640 |
| Dishwasher | $28,710 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,650 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Fort Wayne?
The median hourly pay in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area is $17.45 ($36,300 a year).
Do cooks make more in Fort Wayne than the national average?
No: $36,300 against $37,450 nationally, 3% less.
How does Fort Wayne compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $35,980, so Fort Wayne pays 1% more.
Where does Fort Wayne rank for cook pay?
214 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,590 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,320 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.