Michigan City-La Porte, IN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Michigan City-La Porte, IN

In the Michigan City-La Porte, IN metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,500 ($16.59/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,500/year and the 90th was $43,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Indiana tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,913 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 91.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,500$16.59 per hour · $2,875 monthly
10th Percentile$25,500$12.26/hr base
25th Percentile$28,100$13.51/hr base
75th Percentile$36,900$17.74/hr base
90th Percentile$43,400$20.87/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

$34,500
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,500
Net 84%
Fed 6%
IN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,913After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,409Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,112Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,960 / yr
Indiana state income tax$988 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,639 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Michigan City-La Porte, 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 Michigan City-La Porte, IN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IN)
10th Percentile$12.26/hr$2,125$25,500$21,887
25th Percentile$13.51/hr$2,342$28,100$23,951
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.59/hr$2,875$34,500$28,913
75th Percentile$17.74/hr$3,075$36,900$30,770
90th Percentile$20.87/hr$3,617$43,400$35,801

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Michigan City-La Porte, IN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$71,055Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index91.78.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio48.6%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Michigan City-La Porte, IN

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Michigan City-La Porte, IN is $34,500, which equates to approximately $2,875 per month or $16.59 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Michigan City-La Porte, IN is $16.59 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.26/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.87/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Michigan City-La Porte, IN span from $25,500 at the 10th percentile to $28,100 at the 25th, $36,900 at the 75th, and $43,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?

On a median gross salary of $34,500, an estimated $28,913 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,112 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Indiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,588 (an effective rate of 16.2%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?

On the median annual salary of $34,500, gross monthly income is $2,875. After federal, FICA, and Indiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,409 per month (or $1,112 every two weeks).

Is $34,500 a good salary in Michigan City-La Porte, IN?

At $34,500, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 48.6% of the Michigan City-La Porte, IN median household income ($71,055). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 91.7, making regional consumer goods and services 8.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.