Bartender Salary in Lafayette, IN
Bartenders in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median $22,680 a year — 34% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,647 take-home, or $1,637 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Lafayette, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$658
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,406
- Medicare (1.45%)$329
- Indiana income tax$640
- Take-home pay$19,647
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 2.95% state
Bartender pay by experience in Lafayette, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,050 | $8.20 | $15,177 | $1,265 |
| 25th percentile | $19,460 | $9.36 | $17,091 | $1,424 |
| Median (50th) | $22,680 | $10.90 | $19,647 | $1,637 |
| 75th percentile | $31,610 | $15.20 | $26,676 | $2,223 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,880 | $20.13 | $34,625 | $2,885 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,680 buys in Lafayette, IN
Prices in Lafayette, IN are 6.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 24% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $19,647 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,029 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bartender jobs are about as common in Lafayette, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Lafayette, IN ranks #204 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 204 | Lafayette, IN | $22,680 | $19,647 | $21,029 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Fort Wayne, IN — $23,010
- South Bend, IN — $23,000
- Evansville, IN — $22,360
- Indianapolis, IN — $22,880
- Bloomington, IN — $22,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Lafayette, IN?
The median bartender salary in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $22,680 a year, or about $10.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,460 and $31,610.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Lafayette, IN?
On the median $22,680 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $19,647 a year ($1,637 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $640 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, IN a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 34% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,029 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, IN ranks #204 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Lafayette, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, IN is $999 a month ($1,207 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,750
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,870
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,420
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,230