Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Indianapolis, IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN

Median annual salary $30,440 +0.9% vs national
Median hourly $14.64
10th percentile $22,760
90th percentile $37,460
Employed locally 1,770
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Indianapolis, IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,760
    25th
    $28,610
    50th (median)
    $30,440
    75th
    $37,460
    90th
    $37,460

    Indianapolis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,065 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 39% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 61% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $39,120
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $38,040
    Salinas, CA $37,960
    Washington $36,800
    Redding, CA $36,780
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $36,190

    Related occupations in Indianapolis, IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,760
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,180
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $43,180
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,040
    Food Preparation Workers $31,180
    Bartenders $23,610

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Indianapolis?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Indianapolis, IN is $14.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.94 or more per hour.

    Is Indianapolis above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Indianapolis, IN is 0.9% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Indianapolis?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,760 per year in Indianapolis, IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,610.