Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Fort Wayne
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,350 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Fort Wayne earn between $39,490 and $62,570.
- $31K10th
- $39K25th
- $49KMedian
- $63K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,920 | $4,410 | $25.44 |
| Median | $49,490 | $4,124 | $23.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,490 | $3,291 | $18.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,570 | $5,214 | $30.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Fort Wayne vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Fort Wayne earn 4% less than the Indiana average ($55,060) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $52,920 | $49,490 | $31,300 | $76,350 | 120 |
| Indiana | $55,060 | $52,190 | $30,930 | $82,430 | 1,940 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Fort Wayne
On the average salary of $52,920, a single filer in Fort Wayne takes home about $42,318 a year, or $3,527 a month and $1,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Is Fort Wayne a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Wayne area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $52,920 buys what about $57,166 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Wayne ($47,700). A typical home costs $259,816, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Indiana cities
Fort Wayne ranks 5th of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job; Terre Haute pays the most ($70,410).
- Terre Haute$70,410
- Bloomington$57,780
- South Bend$57,090
- Indianapolis$53,360
- Fort Wayne$52,920
- Evansville$49,720
- Lafayette$46,030
- Muncie$42,840
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Fort Wayne: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Fort Wayne?
$25.44 an hour on average, and $23.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Fort Wayne?
About $42,318 a year ($3,527 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,920. Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Fort Wayne than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Fort Wayne, IN (23060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.40, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.40).
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