Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,590 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indianapolis earn between $31,840 and $38,680.
- $30K10th
- $32K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,670 | $3,056 | $17.63 |
| Median | $36,350 | $3,029 | $17.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,840 | $2,653 | $15.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,680 | $3,223 | $18.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indianapolis earn about the same as the Indiana average ($35,910) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $36,670 | $36,350 | $29,640 | $45,590 | 3,410 |
| Indiana | $35,910 | $35,980 | $29,280 | $44,760 | 11,130 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $36,670, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $29,854 a year, or $2,488 a month and $1,148 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 Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $36,670 buys what about $38,319 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 4th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Lafayette pays the most ($38,450).
- Lafayette$38,450
- South Bend$37,520
- Bloomington$37,240
- Indianapolis$36,670
- Fort Wayne$36,600
- Elkhart$36,210
- Michigan City$35,410
- Kokomo$35,340
- Columbus$34,930
- Evansville$34,480
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Indianapolis?
$17.63 an hour on average, and $17.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $29,854 a year ($2,488 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,670. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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