Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median of $40,300 a year ($19.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,950 for the top 10%. That is 35% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 23% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $52,190. There are 0.61 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $46,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,960 | $14.41 |
| 25th percentile | $31,490 | $15.14 |
| Median | $40,300 | $19.37 |
| 75th percentile | $59,290 | $28.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,950 | $30.26 |
| Average (mean) | $46,030 | $22.13 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,358.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,679.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,550 |
| Weekly | $775 |
| Hourly | $19.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,180 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 | 100 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 | 120 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,010 | 960 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Muncie, IN | $37,920 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,750 | $21.52 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,230 | $13.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,420 | $13.67 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Bartender | $22,680 | $10.90 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,170 | $12.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Dishwasher | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,990 | $14.42 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $40,300 a year, or $19.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn at least $62,950 a year. The top 25% earn $59,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,960 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $31,490 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 60 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.