Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,310 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Indianapolis earn between $29,510 and $36,660.
- $23K10th
- $30K25th
- $30KMedian
- $37K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,760 | $2,647 | $15.27 |
| Median | $30,500 | $2,542 | $14.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,510 | $2,459 | $14.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,660 | $3,055 | $17.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Indianapolis earn 3% more than the Indiana average ($30,720) and about the same as the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $31,760 | $30,500 | $22,860 | $37,310 | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $30,720 | $29,870 | $24,050 | $37,310 | 6,830 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $31,760, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $26,155 a year, or $2,180 a month and $1,006 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 cooks, fast food? 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 $31,760 buys what about $33,188 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 1st of 5 Indiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Indianapolis$31,760
- Lafayette$30,010
- South Bend$29,740
- Bloomington$29,660
- Terre Haute$28,160
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Fast Food salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Indianapolis?
$15.27 an hour on average, and $14.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $26,155 a year ($2,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,760. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.