Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,140 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lafayette earn between $26,850 and $36,530.
- $22K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $37K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,060 | $2,588 | $14.93 |
| Median | $29,500 | $2,458 | $14.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,850 | $2,238 | $12.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,530 | $3,044 | $17.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Lafayette earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,560) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $31,060 | $29,500 | $22,380 | $38,140 | 420 |
| Indiana | $31,560 | $29,700 | $23,170 | $39,050 | 16,200 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $31,060, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $25,850 a year, or $2,154 a month and $994 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Is Lafayette a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $31,060 buys what about $33,244 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($48,780). A typical home costs $286,179, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Lafayette ranks 8th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Elkhart pays the most ($32,970).
- Elkhart$32,970
- Indianapolis$32,660
- Columbus$32,060
- Fort Wayne$31,840
- South Bend$31,810
- Kokomo$31,710
- Bloomington$31,230
- Lafayette$31,060
- Evansville$30,040
- Michigan City$30,030
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lafayette?
$14.93 an hour on average, and $14.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $25,850 a year ($2,154 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,060. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.