How much does a cook make in Indianapolis?
$30,500a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. That is $14.66 an hour or $2,542 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.66
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 114 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 2,260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,860Median: $30,500Highest 10%: $37,310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,860 | $10.99 | |
| 25th | $29,510 | $14.19 | |
| Median | $30,500 | $14.66 | |
| 75th | $36,660 | $17.63 | |
| 90th | $37,310 | $17.94 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Chicago, IL | $35,360 |
| Lafayette, IN | $29,540 |
| South Bend, IN | $29,540 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,290 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $28,930 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $27,800 |
| Louisville, KY | $26,990 |
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 |
| Cook | $36,350 |
| Food Server | $31,960 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 |
| 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 $14.66 ($30,500 a year).
Do cooks make more in Indianapolis than the national average?
No: $30,500 against $30,890 nationally, 1% less.
How does Indianapolis compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $29,870, so Indianapolis pays 2% more.
Where does Indianapolis rank for cook pay?
114 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,860 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,310 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.