Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $36,350 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,344 take-home, or $2,529 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,182
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,254
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- Indiana income tax$1,043
- Take-home pay$30,344
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $714 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,630 ($2,469 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, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,640 | $14.25 | $25,151 | $2,096 |
| 25th percentile | $31,840 | $15.31 | $26,854 | $2,238 |
| Median (50th) | $36,350 | $17.48 | $30,344 | $2,529 |
| 75th percentile | $38,680 | $18.60 | $32,148 | $2,679 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,590 | $21.92 | $37,496 | $3,125 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,350 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, institution and cafeteria's $30,344 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,709 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #25 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 25 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,350 | $30,344 | $31,709 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $36,350 a year, or about $17.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,840 and $38,680.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $36,350 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $30,344 a year ($2,529 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,043 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,709 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #25 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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, institution and cafeteria’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, Restaurant — $36,610
- 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