Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · Indiana

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Indiana

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Indiana earn a median annual wage of $35,980 —3.9% below the national median of $37,450. That ranks IN #36 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$35,980
Median hourly
$17.30
Entry level (P10)
$29,280
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$44,760
90th percentile
Employment
11,130
3.5 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-3.9%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$29,280
$31,080
$35,980
$38,480
$29,280$35,980$44,760
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $35,980.

Employment is 1.23× as concentrated as the national average, making Indiana a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Indiana is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

Related occupations in Indiana

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Indiana.

OccupationIndiana medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,790$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$28,480$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$35,170$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,880$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$29,700$35,320
Bartenders$22,770$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Indiana?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indiana is $35,980, or $17.30 per hour. That is 3.9% below the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Indiana?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $29,280 per year ($14.08/hour). The 25th percentile is $31,080.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Indiana?

About 11,130 people work in this occupation in Indiana, or 3.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Indiana a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

Indiana ranks #36 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.23x as concentrated as the national average, making Indiana a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes