How much does a cook make in Indianapolis?
$36,350a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. That is $17.48 an hour or $3,029 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.48
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 212 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 3,410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,640Median: $36,350Highest 10%: $45,590
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,640 | $14.25 | |
| 25th | $31,840 | $15.31 | |
| Median | $36,350 | $17.48 | |
| 75th | $38,680 | $18.60 | |
| 90th | $45,590 | $21.92 |
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 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $36,300 |
| 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 Indianapolis
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $49,010 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,590 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,160 |
| Cook | $36,610 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Indianapolis?
The median hourly pay in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $17.48 ($36,350 a year).
Do cooks make more in Indianapolis than the national average?
No: $36,350 against $37,450 nationally, 3% less.
How does Indianapolis compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $35,980, so Indianapolis pays 1% more.
Where does Indianapolis rank for cook pay?
212 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,640 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,590 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.