Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Indiana
Cooks, Fast Food in Indiana have a median of $29,870 a year, below the national $30,890 (−3%); the state ranks 31st of 51 states by median. That is 38% less than the median across all occupations in Indiana ($47,860). Among neighbouring states, Illinois pays more (up to $34,960 in Illinois) and Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky pay less (down to $23,500 in Kentucky). Indiana employs 6,830 cooks, fast food, 2.13 per 1,000 jobs, the 27th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.52 means it is less common in Indiana than nationally.
Indiana vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $11.56 | $13.67 | $14.36 | $16.98 | $17.94 | $14.77 | 6,830 | 2.14 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $24,050 | $28,440 | $29,870 | $35,310 | $37,310 | $30,720 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.86 | $13.11 | $14.85 | $17.92 | $20.63 | $15.57 | 641,070 | – | – |
| Annual | $22,580 | $27,260 | $30,890 | $37,260 | $42,910 | $32,390 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 31st of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 27th of 49 states
- Location quotient
- 0.52
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.14
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Indiana's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Indiana
8 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Indiana publish a row for cooks, fast food, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $17.00 | $35,360 | $31,200 | $41,480 | 10,460 | 2.32 | 0.56 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $14.67 | $30,500 | $22,860 | $37,310 | 2,260 | 2.05 | 0.50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $14.20 | $29,540 | $23,500 | $36,400 | 270 | 2.68 | 0.65 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $14.20 | $29,540 | $25,960 | $36,170 | 560 | 4.27 | 1.04 |
| Bloomington, IN | $14.08 | $29,290 | $24,330 | $36,090 | 190 | 2.56 | 0.62 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $13.91 | $28,930 | $22,860 | $37,130 | 4,930 | 4.48 | 1.09 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $13.37 | $27,800 | $23,260 | $34,250 | 180 | 2.80 | 0.68 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $12.98 | $26,990 | $21,990 | $35,050 | 5,060 | 7.38 | 1.79 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $13.88 | $28,870 | $23,900 | $35,310 | 230 | 1.11 | 0.27 |
| Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $13.67 | $28,440 | $23,840 | $34,690 | 500 | 3.11 | 0.75 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $13.48 | $28,030 | $23,790 | $35,570 | 370 | 1.86 | 0.45 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Cooks, Fast Food (every state ranked) and the Indiana wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Indiana estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.