Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lafayette, IN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median $34,870 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,199 take-home, or $2,433 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Lafayette, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,004
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,162
- Medicare (1.45%)$506
- Indiana income tax$999
- Take-home pay$29,199
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Lafayette, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,390 | $12.21 | $21,799 | $1,817 |
| 25th percentile | $28,710 | $13.80 | $24,431 | $2,036 |
| Median (50th) | $34,870 | $16.76 | $29,199 | $2,433 |
| 75th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 | $30,437 | $2,536 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,610 | $20.97 | $35,964 | $2,997 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,870 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 cooks, restaurant's $29,199 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,252 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Lafayette, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Lafayette, IN ranks #214 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 214 | Lafayette, IN | $34,870 | $29,199 | $31,252 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Indianapolis, IN — $36,610
- Evansville, IN — $34,290
- Elkhart, IN — $33,770
- South Bend, IN — $34,650
- Fort Wayne, IN — $34,490
- Bloomington, IN — $34,910
- Muncie, IN — $30,050
- Terre Haute, IN — $29,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Lafayette, IN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $34,870 a year, or about $16.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,710 and $36,470.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Lafayette, IN?
On the median $34,870 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $29,199 a year ($2,433 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $999 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, IN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 6.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,252 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, IN ranks #214 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 41% of a median cooks, restaurant’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
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,420
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,230
- Bartender — $22,680