Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fort Wayne, IN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area earn a median $34,490 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,905 take-home, or $2,409 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Fort Wayne, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,959
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,138
- Medicare (1.45%)$500
- Indiana income tax$988
- Take-home pay$28,905
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Fort Wayne, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,000 | $12.50 | $22,284 | $1,857 |
| 25th percentile | $28,670 | $13.78 | $24,400 | $2,033 |
| Median (50th) | $34,490 | $16.58 | $28,905 | $2,409 |
| 75th percentile | $36,500 | $17.55 | $30,461 | $2,538 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,860 | $19.16 | $33,061 | $2,755 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,490 buys in Fort Wayne, IN
Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $28,905 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,224 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 Fort Wayne, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Fort Wayne, IN ranks #216 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 216 | Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 | $28,905 | $31,224 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Indianapolis, IN — $36,610
- Evansville, IN — $34,290
- Elkhart, IN — $33,770
- South Bend, IN — $34,650
- Lafayette, IN — $34,870
- Bloomington, IN — $34,910
- Muncie, IN — $30,050
- Terre Haute, IN — $29,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area is $34,490 a year, or about $16.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,670 and $36,500.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Fort Wayne, IN?
On the median $34,490 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $28,905 a year ($2,409 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $988 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Fort Wayne, IN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,224 would in a typical U.S. city. Fort Wayne, IN ranks #216 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Fort Wayne, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fort Wayne, IN is $906 a month ($1,105 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fort Wayne, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,500
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,300
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,850
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,640
- Dishwasher — $28,710
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,650
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,360
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $25,920
- Bartender — $23,010