Cooks, Short Order Salary in Indianapolis, IN

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

Median annual salary $30,700 -13.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.76
10th percentile $26,190
90th percentile $35,220
Employed locally 630
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Indianapolis, IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,190
    25th
    $30,700
    50th (median)
    $30,700
    75th
    $32,510
    90th
    $35,220

    Indianapolis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,065 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 40% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Washington $46,010
    Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $40,960
    Springfield, MA $39,660
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $39,140
    Bellingham, WA $38,550
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $38,340

    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, Short Order make per hour in Indianapolis?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Indianapolis, IN is $14.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $15.06 or more per hour.

    Is Indianapolis above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Indianapolis, IN is 13.8% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Indianapolis?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $26,190 per year in Indianapolis, IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,700.