SOC 17-2131 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Materials Engineers — Lafayette
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN · 2 metro areas compared
In Lafayette, IN the median wage is $85,130.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Lafayette, IN the median wage is $85,130. That is 24.6% lower than the national median of $112,860. Pay ranges from under $58,040 at the tenth percentile to more than $120,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $82,720 to $102,910.
Employment stands at 40, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Indianapolis records the highest median at $127,230. Of the 308 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 52nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,040 | −48.6% |
| 25th | $82,720 | −26.7% |
| Median (50th) | $85,130 | −24.6% |
| 75th | $102,910 | −8.8% |
| 90th | $120,810 | +7.0% |
| Mean | $92,310 | −18.2% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis | $127,230 | 160 | |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | $99,640 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lafayette run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $85,130 goes as far as $91,243 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$85,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,243US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $85,130 a year, 24.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,040 to $120,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Indianapolis, at $127,230.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Materials Engineers in Lafayette, IN?
The median annual wage is $85,130, or $40.93 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $112,860, so pay in Lafayette, IN is 24.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Lafayette, IN earns more than $120,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,040 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Indianapolis, at $127,230 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Lafayette, IN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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