Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Muncie, IN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Muncie, IN metro area earn a median $30,050 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,468 take-home, or $2,122 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Muncie, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,426
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,863
- Medicare (1.45%)$436
- Indiana income tax$857
- Take-home pay$25,468
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Muncie, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,230 | $12.61 | $22,466 | $1,872 |
| 25th percentile | $27,840 | $13.38 | $23,744 | $1,979 |
| Median (50th) | $30,050 | $14.45 | $25,468 | $2,122 |
| 75th percentile | $35,730 | $17.18 | $29,865 | $2,489 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,170 | $17.87 | $30,979 | $2,582 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,050 buys in Muncie, IN
Prices in Muncie, IN are 11.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 43% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $25,468 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,893 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 Muncie, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Muncie, IN ranks #300 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 |
| 300 | Muncie, IN | $30,050 | $25,468 | $28,893 |
*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
- Fort Wayne, IN — $34,490
- Bloomington, IN — $34,910
- Terre Haute, IN — $29,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Muncie, IN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Muncie, IN metro area is $30,050 a year, or about $14.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,840 and $35,730.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Muncie, IN?
On the median $30,050 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $25,468 a year ($2,122 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $857 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Muncie, IN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 11.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,893 would in a typical U.S. city. Muncie, IN ranks #300 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Muncie, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Muncie, IN is $845 a month ($1,043 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Muncie, IN
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,560
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,720