Bartender salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Bartenders in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median of $22,680 a year ($10.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 460 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,880 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is about the same as the Indiana statewide median of $22,770. There are 4.5 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $27,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,050 | $8.20 |
| 25th percentile | $19,460 | $9.36 |
| Median | $22,680 | $10.90 |
| 75th percentile | $31,610 | $15.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,880 | $20.13 |
| Average (mean) | $27,340 | $13.15 |
Half of bartenders 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 | $1,890 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $945 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $872.31 |
| Weekly | $436.15 |
| Hourly | $10.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Columbus, IN | $23,700 | 150 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $23,120 | 210 |
| Kokomo, IN | $23,060 | 180 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23,010 | 850 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23,000 | 580 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $22,880 | 4,480 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $22,430 | 250 |
| Bloomington, IN | $22,370 | 440 |
| Evansville, IN | $22,360 | 590 |
| Muncie, IN | $21,780 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,090 | 410 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,230 | $13.57 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,420 | $13.67 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,990 | $14.42 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,870 | $16.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,750 | $21.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $40,300 | $19.37 |
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 35-3011. 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 bartender make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median salary for bartenders in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $22,680 a year, or $10.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn at least $41,880 a year. The top 25% earn $31,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,050 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $19,460 or less.
How many bartenders work in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 460 bartenders are employed in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.