Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,310 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Indianapolis earn between $30,940 and $63,780.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $49KMedian
- $64K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,360 | $4,447 | $25.65 |
| Median | $49,010 | $4,084 | $23.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,940 | $2,578 | $14.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,780 | $5,315 | $30.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Indianapolis earn 3% less than the Indiana average ($55,060) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $53,360 | $49,010 | $30,930 | $78,310 | 960 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $53,360, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $42,426 a year, or $3,536 a month and $1,632 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 Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $53,360 buys what about $55,760 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 4th 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Indianapolis?
$25.65 an hour on average, and $23.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $42,426 a year ($3,536 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,360. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.4%.
- 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 Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.