Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Elkhart
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,160 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Elkhart earn between $33,460 and $37,800.
- $30K10th
- $33K25th
- $36KMedian
- $38K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,210 | $3,018 | $17.41 |
| Median | $36,170 | $3,014 | $17.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,460 | $2,788 | $16.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,800 | $3,150 | $18.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Elkhart vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Elkhart earn about the same as the Indiana average ($35,910) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $36,210 | $36,170 | $30,130 | $45,160 | 320 |
| Indiana | $35,910 | $35,980 | $29,280 | $44,760 | 11,130 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Elkhart
On the average salary of $36,210, a single filer in Elkhart takes home about $29,514 a year, or $2,460 a month and $1,135 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Elkhart's local income tax (2%).
Is Elkhart a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Elkhart area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.3), so the average $36,210 buys what about $40,089 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Elkhart ($48,070). A typical home costs $265,734, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Indiana cities
Elkhart ranks 6th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Lafayette pays the most ($38,450).
- Lafayette$38,450
- South Bend$37,520
- Bloomington$37,240
- Indianapolis$36,670
- Fort Wayne$36,600
- Elkhart$36,210
- Michigan City$35,410
- Kokomo$35,340
- Columbus$34,930
- Evansville$34,480
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Elkhart: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Elkhart?
$17.41 an hour on average, and $17.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Elkhart?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Elkhart?
About $29,514 a year ($2,460 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,210. Includes Elkhart's local income tax (2%).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Elkhart than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Elkhart-Goshen, IN (21140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Elkhart's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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