Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Michigan City, IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Michigan City-La Porte, IN

Median annual salary $34,310 -6.8% vs national
Median hourly $16.50
10th percentile $26,570
90th percentile $41,600
Employed locally 460
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Michigan City, IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,570
    25th
    $28,440
    50th (median)
    $34,310
    75th
    $36,320
    90th
    $41,600

    Michigan City economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,452 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $45,450
    Washington $44,980
    Maine $44,870
    Salinas, CA $44,490
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $44,370
    Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $43,740

    Related occupations in Michigan City, IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,550
    Waiters and Waitresses $27,410
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,190
    Bartenders $21,430
    Food Preparation Workers $28,270
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $27,900

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Michigan City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Michigan City, IN is $16.50, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.73 or more per hour.

    Is Michigan City above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Michigan City, IN is 6.8% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Michigan City?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,570 per year in Michigan City, IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,440.