Lafayette Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Lafayette, IN: $17.21/hr median hourly wage, $35,789 median annual salary, cost of living index 84.8, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Indiana taxes.
Lafayette Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Lafayette, IN is $17.21/hr, equivalent to $35,789 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $10.67/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $24.44/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median Salary
$35,789
$17.21/hr
Cost of Living
84.8
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Lafayette, IN Overview
Population
70,373
Median Salary
$35,789
Average Salary
$40,084
Avg Commute
17 min
Median Home Price
$175,000
Median Rent
$735/mo
Job Growth
+2%
Sales Tax
7%
Lafayette is located in Indiana with a population of 70,373. The median household salary is $35,789 per year ($17.21/hour), which is $23,595 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 17 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2%.
Lafayette Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Lafayette, IN based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $35,789 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $22,189 | $10.67/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $35,789 | $17.21/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $50,820 | $24.44/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $63,704 | $30.63/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Lafayette Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Lafayette, IN, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$29,834
$2,486.18/month · $1,147.47/biweekly · Effective Rate: 16.6%
Gross Pay
$35,789
Federal Tax
-$2,115
State Tax
-$1,092
Local Tax
-$11
FICA
-$2,738
Net Pay
$29,834
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $2,982.42 | $35,789.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$176.22 | -$2,114.68 |
| Indiana State Tax (3.05%) | -$90.96 | -$1,091.56 |
| Local Tax (0.03%) | -$0.89 | -$10.74 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$184.91 | -$2,218.92 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$43.25 | -$518.94 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,486.18 | $29,834.16 |
Salary Comparison: Lafayette vs Other Cities
See how Lafayette's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, IN | $35,789 | 84.8 | $42,204 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Dothan, AL | $35,790 | 82.5 | $43,382 |
| Johnson City, TN | $35,790 | 85.8 | $41,713 |
| Conway, AR | $35,785 | 84.5 | $42,349 |
| Waterloo, IA | $35,785 | 82.5 | $43,376 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Lafayette
Lafayette's cost of living index is 84.8 (national average = 100). Living in Lafayette is 15.200000000000003% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$175,000
Median Monthly Rent
$735
Annual Rent Cost
$8,820
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $29,834 annual take-home pay in Lafayette has the purchasing power of approximately $35,182 in an average-cost US area. Your $35,789 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Lafayette
Lafayette's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $35,789.
Salary Tips for Lafayette Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Lafayette has a cost of living 15.200000000000003% below the national average. A salary of $35,789 here has the purchasing power of about $42,204 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Lafayette's top industries include Manufacturing, Logistics, Life Sciences. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $35,789 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Lafayette salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Lafayette-IN metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Lafayette indexed at 84.8.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Lafayette's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $35,789 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Indiana state income tax (3.05%), plus Lafayette local tax of 0.03%, sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Lafayette: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Logistics, Life Sciences — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Indiana.
- Housing context: median home price $175,000, median rent $735/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Lafayette, IN:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Lafayette unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Lafayette QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Indiana — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Lafayette's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Indiana labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Lafayette, IN?
The median hourly wage in Lafayette, IN is $17.21 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $35,789 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $10.67/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $24.44/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Lafayette, IN?
The median salary in Lafayette, IN is $35,789 per year, or $17.21 per hour. The average salary is $40,084. This is $23,595 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Lafayette, IN?
Lafayette's cost of living index is 84.8 (national average = 100), meaning it is 15.200000000000003% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $175,000 and the median monthly rent is $735.
What are the best industries in Lafayette?
The top industries in Lafayette, IN include Manufacturing, Logistics, Life Sciences. The city has a job growth rate of 2% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $35,789.
How does Lafayette's salary compare to other cities?
Lafayette's median salary of $35,789 is 39.7% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 84.8), the real purchasing power is approximately $42,204.
What is the minimum wage in Lafayette, IN?
The minimum wage in Lafayette, IN is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.