Restaurant Cook Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the Indianapolis area earns $36,610 a year ($17.60 an hour), 2% below the U.S. median ($37,390) and 4% above the Indiana median ($35,170). Half of the 9,180 restaurant cooks there earn between $30,390 and $38,100.
Median $36,610
10th: $26,91090th: $45,300
| Annual pay | Indianapolis area | Indiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,910 | $26,000 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $30,390 | $28,650 | $34,010 |
| Median | $36,610 | $35,170 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $38,100 | $37,590 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $45,300 | $44,190 | $47,900 |
| Average | $35,550 | $34,150 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 9,180 | 26,960 | 1,409,890 |
Indianapolis, IN ranks 38th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Diego, CA: $46,440
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- Portland, OR: $45,200
- Los Angeles, CA: $44,460
- Denver, CO: $44,370
- All cities
Similar jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- Food Preparation Worker: $30,490
- Fast Food Worker: $29,040
- Waiter: $29,050
- Food Service Supervisor: $45,590
- Bartender: $22,880
- All jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.