Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

In the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $35,200 ($16.92/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,000/year and the 90th was $44,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Indiana tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,454 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 93.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,200$16.92 per hour · $2,933 monthly
10th Percentile$26,000$12.50/hr base
25th Percentile$28,700$13.80/hr base
75th Percentile$37,600$18.08/hr base
90th Percentile$44,200$21.25/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$35,200
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,200
Net 84%
Fed 6%
IN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,454After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,455Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,133Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,044 / yr
Indiana state income tax$1,009 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,693 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IN)
10th Percentile$12.50/hr$2,167$26,000$22,284
25th Percentile$13.80/hr$2,392$28,700$24,423
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.92/hr$2,933$35,200$29,454
75th Percentile$18.08/hr$3,133$37,600$31,312
90th Percentile$21.25/hr$3,683$44,200$36,420

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$62,011Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index93.46.6% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio56.8%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Indiana:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $35,200, which equates to approximately $2,933 per month or $16.92 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $16.92 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.50/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.25/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN span from $26,000 at the 10th percentile to $28,700 at the 25th, $37,600 at the 75th, and $44,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

On a median gross salary of $35,200, an estimated $29,454 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,133 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Indiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,746 (an effective rate of 16.3%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

On the median annual salary of $35,200, gross monthly income is $2,933. After federal, FICA, and Indiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,455 per month (or $1,133 every two weeks).

Is $35,200 a good salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

At $35,200, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 56.8% of the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN median household income ($62,011). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 93.4, making regional consumer goods and services 6.6% cheaper than the U.S. average.