Cooks, Short Order pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $31,330 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Indianapolis earn between $21,440 and $30,230.
- $21K10th
- $21K25th
- $21KMedian
- $30K75th
- $31K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $25,800 | $2,150 | $12.40 |
| Median | $21,440 | $1,787 | $10.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,440 | $1,787 | $10.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,230 | $2,519 | $14.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Indianapolis earn 4% less than the Indiana average ($26,850) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is -40% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $25,800 | $21,440 | $21,440 | $31,330 | n/a |
| Indiana | $26,850 | $21,940 | $20,760 | $36,260 | 2,940 |
| United States | $36,120 | $35,880 | $23,440 | $46,460 | 138,650 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Short Order salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $25,800, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $21,611 a year, or $1,801 a month and $831 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for cooks, short order? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $25,800 buys what about $26,960 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 11.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 8th of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job; Muncie pays the most ($29,780).
- Muncie$29,780
- Fort Wayne$28,670
- Michigan City$28,550
- Kokomo$27,850
- Bloomington$27,400
- Terre Haute$26,320
- Elkhart$26,210
- Indianapolis$25,800
Highest-paying cities for cooks, short order
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,560).
- Kahului, HI$52,560
- Denver, CO$51,530
- Seattle, WA$49,560
- Corvallis, OR$48,580
- San Francisco, CA$46,250
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Cooks, Short Order salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Indianapolis?
$12.40 an hour on average, and $10.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $21,611 a year ($1,801 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $25,800. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do cooks, short order earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,120).
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 35-2015; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 16.9%.
- 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 Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
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