SOC 35-3041 · Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Lafayette, IN

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette, Indiana is $30,990 a year ($14.90 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $29,990: half of the 140 people in this job in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

$30,990average per year

$14.90 / hourMedian $29,990Take-home ≈ $25,797

  • $26K10th
  • $27K25th
  • $30KMedian
  • $36K75th
  • $37K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

140people in this job
-14%vs U.S. average
#8 of 10Indiana metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Lafayette

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,150 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette earn between $27,440 and $35,660.

  • $26K10th
  • $27K25th
  • $30KMedian
  • $36K75th
  • $37K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$30,990$2,582$14.90
Median$29,990$2,499$14.42
Entry level (25th percentile)$27,440$2,287$13.19
Experienced (75th percentile)$35,660$2,972$17.14

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette earn 4% less than the Indiana average ($32,400) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $35,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Lafayette$30,990$29,990$26,360$37,150140
Indiana$32,400$31,840$26,360$38,3503,900
United States$36,140$35,360$28,030$46,120293,900

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Lafayette

On the average salary of $30,990, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $25,797 a year, or $2,150 a month and $992 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%).

Indiana paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Lafayette a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? 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 $30,990 buys what about $33,169 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.

See what $30,990 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Indiana cities

Lafayette ranks 8th of 10 Indiana metro areas for this job; Fort Wayne pays the most ($35,150).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in Indiana

Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Lafayette: questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Lafayette?

$14.90 an hour on average, and $14.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Lafayette?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,440, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Lafayette?

About $25,797 a year ($2,150 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,990. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

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 35-3041; area Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
  • 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 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.