How much does a food server make in Lafayette?
$29,990a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area. That is $14.42 an hour or $2,499 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.42
- Vs. national median
- -15%
- Rank among cities
- 261 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 140
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,360Median: $29,990Highest 10%: $37,150
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,360 | $12.67 | |
| 25th | $27,440 | $13.19 | |
| Median | $29,990 | $14.42 | |
| 75th | $35,660 | $17.14 | |
| 90th | $37,150 | $17.86 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Chicago, IL | $35,670 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 |
| Elkhart, IN | $34,630 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,400 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,860 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $31,960 |
| Louisville, KY | $31,780 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,510 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,360 |
| South Bend, IN | $29,800 |
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 |
| Cook | $34,870 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $34,820 |
| 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 food server make an hour in Lafayette?
The median hourly pay in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $14.42 ($29,990 a year).
Do food servers make more in Lafayette than the national average?
No: $29,990 against $35,360 nationally, 15% less.
How does Lafayette compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $31,840, so Lafayette pays 6% less.
Where does Lafayette rank for food server pay?
261 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,360 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,150 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.