Cooks, Short Order salary in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
Cooks, Short Order in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median of $21,440 a year ($10.31 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $21,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,330 for the top 10%. That is 40% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 2% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $21,940. The average (mean) salary is $25,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| 25th percentile | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| Median | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| 75th percentile | $30,230 | $14.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $31,330 | $15.06 |
| Average (mean) | $25,800 | $12.40 |
Half of cooks, short order earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,786.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $893.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $824.62 |
| Weekly | $412.31 |
| Hourly | $10.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,180 | 580 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,240 | 170 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,630 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,030 | 60 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,670 | 30 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,430 | 70 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,390 | 40 |
| Muncie, IN | $28,030 | 50 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,940 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,500 | $14.67 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Bartender | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,110 | $13.52 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Dishwasher | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,960 | $15.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,160 | $18.35 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $21,440 a year, or $10.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn at least $31,330 a year. The top 25% earn $30,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,440 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $21,440 or less.