Bartenders pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $41,880 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Lafayette earn between $19,460 and $31,610.
- $17K10th
- $19K25th
- $23KMedian
- $32K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,340 | $2,278 | $13.14 |
| Median | $22,680 | $1,890 | $10.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $19,460 | $1,622 | $9.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,610 | $2,634 | $15.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Bartenders in Lafayette earn about the same as the Indiana average ($27,780) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $27,340 | $22,680 | $17,050 | $41,880 | 460 |
| Indiana | $27,780 | $22,770 | $17,050 | $45,000 | 12,880 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $27,340, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $22,997 a year, or $1,916 a month and $885 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 bartenders? 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 $27,340 buys what about $29,263 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($48,780). A typical home costs $286,179, or 10.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Indiana cities
Lafayette ranks 5th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($29,510).
- Indianapolis$29,510
- Columbus$28,970
- Elkhart$28,620
- South Bend$28,530
- Lafayette$27,340
- Michigan City$27,280
- Kokomo$27,160
- Fort Wayne$27,130
- Bloomington$26,810
- Evansville$26,360
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Lafayette?
$13.15 an hour on average, and $10.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $19,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $22,997 a year ($1,916 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,340. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Do bartenders earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
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 35-3011; area Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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