How much does a chef and head cook make in Lafayette?
$40,300a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area. That is $19.38 an hour or $3,358 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.38
- Vs. national median
- -35%
- Rank among cities
- 330 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,960Median: $40,300Highest 10%: $62,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,960 | $14.40 | |
| 25th | $31,490 | $15.14 | |
| Median | $40,300 | $19.38 | |
| 75th | $59,290 | $28.50 | |
| 90th | $62,950 | $30.26 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 |
| Chicago, IL | $60,770 |
| South Bend, IN | $57,180 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $56,620 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $49,010 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 |
| Louisville, KY | $46,310 |
Related jobs in Lafayette
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,750 |
| Cook | $38,580 |
| Cook | $34,870 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $34,820 |
| Food Server | $29,990 |
| Cook | $29,540 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,500 |
| Dishwasher | $28,690 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,420 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,230 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Lafayette?
The median hourly pay in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $19.38 ($40,300 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Lafayette than the national average?
No: $40,300 against $62,470 nationally, 35% less.
How does Lafayette compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $52,190, so Lafayette pays 23% less.
Where does Lafayette rank for chef and head cook pay?
330 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $62,950 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.