Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lafayette, IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

Median annual salary $31,320 -15% vs national
Median hourly $15.06
10th percentile $26,250
90th percentile $38,250
Employed locally 910
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
in
Lafayette, IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,250
    25th
    $28,660
    50th (median)
    $31,320
    75th
    $36,130
    90th
    $38,250

    Lafayette economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $59,895 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 52% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Lafayette?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lafayette, IN is $15.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.96 or more per hour.

    Is Lafayette above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lafayette, IN is 15% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Lafayette?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,250 per year in Lafayette, IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,660.