Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Indiana
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Indiana (2026)
$17.30 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,029/year ($2,502/month) for a single filer
Indiana ranks 36th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 5% below the national average. Of the 11,130 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Indiana, the typical worker earns $35,980 a year — though pay ranges from $29,280 for newcomers to $44,760 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Indiana
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $29,280 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,080 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,980 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,480 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $44,760 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,130 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Indiana (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Indiana
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $35,980 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Indiana state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,029 — an effective tax rate of 16.5%.
| Gross (median) | $35,980 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,138 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,752 |
| Indiana state income tax | −$1,061 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,029 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,502 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Indiana paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Indiana?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Indiana is $35,980 per year ($17.30 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,080 and $38,480.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Indiana?
- On the median salary of $35,980, a single filer in Indiana takes home about $30,029 per year ($2,502 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.5%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Indiana?
- BLS counts 11,130 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Indiana in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Indiana
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Indiana state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Indiana.