Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Muncie
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,260 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Muncie earn between $30,150 and $56,760.
- $29K10th
- $30K25th
- $38KMedian
- $57K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,840 | $3,570 | $20.60 |
| Median | $37,920 | $3,160 | $18.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,150 | $2,512 | $14.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,760 | $4,730 | $27.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Muncie vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Muncie earn 22% less than the Indiana average ($55,060) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -39% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie | $42,840 | $37,920 | $28,680 | $60,260 | 40 |
| 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 Muncie
On the average salary of $42,840, a single filer in Muncie takes home about $34,719 a year, or $2,893 a month and $1,335 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Muncie's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Muncie a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Muncie area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.1), so the average $42,840 buys what about $48,600 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Muncie ($44,110). A typical home costs $171,820, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Indiana cities
Muncie ranks 8th 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 Muncie: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Muncie?
$20.60 an hour on average, and $18.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Muncie?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Muncie?
About $34,719 a year ($2,893 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,840. Includes Muncie's local income tax (1.5%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Muncie than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Muncie, IN (34620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.5%.
- 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 Muncie's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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