How much does a cook make in Lafayette?
$34,870a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area. That is $16.76 an hour or $2,906 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.76
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 269 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 930
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,390Median: $34,870Highest 10%: $43,610
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,390 | $12.21 | |
| 25th | $28,710 | $13.80 | |
| Median | $34,870 | $16.76 | |
| 75th | $36,470 | $17.53 | |
| 90th | $43,610 | $20.97 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Chicago, IL | $38,930 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $36,610 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,030 |
| Louisville, KY | $35,950 |
| Kokomo, IN | $35,300 |
| Bloomington, IN | $34,910 |
| South Bend, IN | $34,650 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,290 |
| Elkhart, IN | $33,770 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,050 |
| Michigan City, IN | $29,860 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,740 |
Related jobs in Lafayette
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,750 |
| Chef and Head Cook | $40,300 |
| Cook | $38,580 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Lafayette?
The median hourly pay in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $16.76 ($34,870 a year).
Do cooks make more in Lafayette than the national average?
No: $34,870 against $37,390 nationally, 7% less.
How does Lafayette compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $35,170, so Lafayette pays 1% less.
Where does Lafayette rank for cook pay?
269 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,390 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,610 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.