Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $36,610 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,546 take-home, or $2,545 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,213
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- Indiana income tax$1,050
- Take-home pay$30,546
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $719 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,826 ($2,486 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,910 | $12.94 | $23,006 | $1,917 |
| 25th percentile | $30,390 | $14.61 | $25,731 | $2,144 |
| Median (50th) | $36,610 | $17.60 | $30,546 | $2,545 |
| 75th percentile | $38,100 | $18.32 | $31,699 | $2,642 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,300 | $21.78 | $37,272 | $3,106 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,610 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,546 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,919 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #49 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,610 | $30,546 | $31,919 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $36,610 a year, or about $17.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,390 and $38,100.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $36,610 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $30,546 a year ($2,545 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,050 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,919 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #49 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,590
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,350
- Dishwasher — $30,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,490
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,040
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,110
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,470
- Bartender — $22,880