How much does a cook make in Fort Wayne?
$34,490a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area. That is $16.58 an hour or $2,874 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.58
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 286 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,030
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,000Median: $34,490Highest 10%: $39,860
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,000 | $12.50 | |
| 25th | $28,670 | $13.78 | |
| Median | $34,490 | $16.58 | |
| 75th | $36,500 | $17.55 | |
| 90th | $39,860 | $19.16 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Chicago, IL | $38,930 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $36,610 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,030 |
| Louisville, KY | $35,950 |
| Kokomo, IN | $35,300 |
| Bloomington, IN | $34,910 |
| Lafayette, IN | $34,870 |
| South Bend, IN | $34,650 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,290 |
| Elkhart, IN | $33,770 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,050 |
| Michigan City, IN | $29,860 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,740 |
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 |
| Cook | $36,300 |
| Food Server | $35,190 |
| 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 $16.58 ($34,490 a year).
Do cooks make more in Fort Wayne than the national average?
No: $34,490 against $37,390 nationally, 8% less.
How does Fort Wayne compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $35,170, so Fort Wayne pays 2% less.
Where does Fort Wayne rank for cook pay?
286 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,000 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,860 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.