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
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 #163 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 |
| 163 | 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 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Evansville, IN — $34,290
- Elkhart, IN — $33,770
- South Bend, IN — $34,650
- Lafayette, IN — $34,870
- Fort Wayne, IN — $34,490
- Bloomington, IN — $34,910
- Muncie, IN — $30,050
- Terre Haute, IN — $29,830
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 #163 of 327 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
- Chef and Head Cook — $49,010
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,590
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,350
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,960
- Dishwasher — $30,520
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,500
- 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