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

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

In the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $28,500 ($13.70/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $17,700/year and the 90th was $48,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Indiana tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,269 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 93.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$28,500$13.70 per hour · $2,375 monthly
10th Percentile$17,700$8.51/hr base
25th Percentile$20,900$10.05/hr base
75th Percentile$36,600$17.60/hr base
90th Percentile$48,400$23.27/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

$28,500
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$28,500
Net 85%
Fed 4%
IN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,269After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,022Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$933Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,240 / yr
Indiana state income tax$811 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,180 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses 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 Waiters and Waitresses in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IN)
10th Percentile$8.51/hr$1,475$17,700$15,693
25th Percentile$10.05/hr$1,742$20,900$18,234
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.70/hr$2,375$28,500$24,269
75th Percentile$17.60/hr$3,050$36,600$30,538
90th Percentile$23.27/hr$4,033$48,400$39,671

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$28,500 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 Ratio46%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Indiana:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $28,500, which equates to approximately $2,375 per month or $13.70 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN is $13.70 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $8.51/hour and one in ten earned more than $23.27/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN span from $17,700 at the 10th percentile to $20,900 at the 25th, $36,600 at the 75th, and $48,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

On a median gross salary of $28,500, an estimated $24,269 lands in net take-home pay per year ($933 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Indiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,232 (an effective rate of 14.8%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

On the median annual salary of $28,500, gross monthly income is $2,375. After federal, FICA, and Indiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,022 per month (or $933 every two weeks).

Is $28,500 a good salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?

At $28,500, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 46% 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.