Elkhart-Goshen, IN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

In the Elkhart-Goshen, IN metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,000 ($16.35/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,200/year and the 90th was $42,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Indiana tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,526 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 90.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,000$16.35 per hour · $2,833 monthly
10th Percentile$25,200$12.12/hr base
25th Percentile$27,700$13.32/hr base
75th Percentile$36,400$17.50/hr base
90th Percentile$42,800$20.58/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$34,000
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,000
Net 84%
Fed 6%
IN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,526After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,377Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,097Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,900 / yr
Indiana state income tax$974 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,601 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IN)
10th Percentile$12.12/hr$2,100$25,200$21,648
25th Percentile$13.32/hr$2,308$27,700$23,633
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.35/hr$2,833$34,000$28,526
75th Percentile$17.50/hr$3,033$36,400$30,383
90th Percentile$20.58/hr$3,567$42,800$35,337

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$68,561Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index90.39.7% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio49.6%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Indiana:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Elkhart-Goshen, IN

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Elkhart-Goshen, IN is $34,000, which equates to approximately $2,833 per month or $16.35 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Elkhart-Goshen, IN is $16.35 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.12/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.58/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Elkhart-Goshen, IN span from $25,200 at the 10th percentile to $27,700 at the 25th, $36,400 at the 75th, and $42,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

On a median gross salary of $34,000, an estimated $28,526 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,097 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Indiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,475 (an effective rate of 16.1%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

On the median annual salary of $34,000, gross monthly income is $2,833. After federal, FICA, and Indiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,377 per month (or $1,097 every two weeks).

Is $34,000 a good salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?

At $34,000, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 49.6% of the Elkhart-Goshen, IN median household income ($68,561). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 90.3, making regional consumer goods and services 9.7% cheaper than the U.S. average.