Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

Each occupation's median wage in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN run 6.6% below the national average (2024), so a Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN salary is worth about 1.07× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

OccupationMedian, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN · vs. national

1General Internal Medicine Physicians$416,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$216,200 – $616,880+62.5%
2First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$89,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,920 – $120,400+60.2%
3Food Batchmakers$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,220 – $60,690+43.5%
4Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$63,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $71,860+41.4%
5Coaches and Scouts$66,250
Bachelor's degree
$32,580 – $653,490+40.0%
6Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$83,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,350 – $95,360+39.4%
7Physicians, All Other$368,750
Doctoral or professional degree
$214,540 – $504,670+38.7%
8Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$66,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $67,040+37.6%
9Education Administrators, Postsecondary$141,700
Master's degree
$66,460 – $352,730+35.5%
10Tool and Die Makers$80,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,260 – $81,360+25.0%
11Agricultural Equipment Operators$52,100
No formal educational credential
$44,750 – $60,130+24.9%
12Electricians$78,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,730 – $96,840+24.3%
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $73,920+22.8%
14Insurance Underwriters$95,130
Bachelor's degree
$61,460 – $118,110+16.9%
15First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$56,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,750 – $65,000+15.1%
16Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $73,840+13.8%
17Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$65,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,080 – $87,590+13.7%
18Automotive Body and Related Repairers$62,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $72,500+13.6%
19First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,680 – $86,590+13.1%
20Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,080 – $75,230+13.0%
21Surveying and Mapping Technicians$61,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $80,130+12.9%
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,710 – $88,890+12.7%
23Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$55,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $83,530+11.9%
24Machine Feeders and Offbearers$45,680
No formal educational credential
$32,510 – $52,690+10.8%
25Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$82,050
Associate's degree
$37,630 – $108,820+10.4%
26Millwrights$72,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $76,920+10.3%
27Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$52,160
Associate's degree
$44,190 – $62,810+10.1%
28Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $71,100+10.0%
29Soil and Plant Scientists$86,380
Bachelor's degree
$66,790 – $171,080+9.5%
30Pest Control Workers$49,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $63,170+9.3%
31Healthcare Social Workers$74,140
Master's degree
$47,720 – $96,000+9.2%
32Biological Technicians$62,630
Bachelor's degree
$45,140 – $88,050+8.9%
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $92,540+8.7%
34Clergy$65,670
Bachelor's degree
$51,550 – $71,190+8.0%
35Athletic Trainers$67,210
Master's degree
$49,410 – $71,620+7.5%
36Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$53,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,320 – $77,210+7.0%
37Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,940
No formal educational credential
$26,620 – $52,270+6.4%
38Chemical Technicians$64,190
Associate's degree
$42,470 – $97,720+6.3%
39Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$82,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,530 – $135,190+6.1%
40Construction Laborers$49,960
No formal educational credential
$36,590 – $74,020+6.0%
41Machinists$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,060 – $75,610+5.9%
42Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,400 – $58,220+5.8%
43Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $64,460+5.8%
44Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$112,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,910 – $212,170+5.3%
45Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$111,470
Master's degree
$75,540 – $136,970+5.3%
46Graphic Designers$66,060
Bachelor's degree
$43,000 – $85,400+4.9%
47Rehabilitation Counselors$49,150
Master's degree
$30,300 – $68,680+4.9%
48First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$83,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,100 – $118,480+4.5%
49Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,450
No formal educational credential
$28,940 – $44,390+4.4%
50Carpenters$63,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $95,940+4.1%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianLafayette-West Lafayette, IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$416,860	$216,200 – $616,880	+62.5%
2	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,610	$35,920 – $120,400	+60.2%
3	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$29,220 – $60,690	+43.5%
4	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,140	$36,750 – $71,860	+41.4%
5	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$66,250	$32,580 – $653,490	+40.0%
6	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,460	$47,350 – $95,360	+39.4%
7	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$368,750	$214,540 – $504,670	+38.7%
8	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,800	$39,410 – $67,040	+37.6%
9	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$141,700	$66,460 – $352,730	+35.5%
10	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,060	$59,260 – $81,360	+25.0%
11	Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$52,100	$44,750 – $60,130	+24.9%
12	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,540	$43,730 – $96,840	+24.3%
13	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$36,440 – $73,920	+22.8%
14	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$95,130	$61,460 – $118,110	+16.9%
15	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,510	$29,750 – $65,000	+15.1%
16	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,710	$40,250 – $73,840	+13.8%
17	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,290	$48,080 – $87,590	+13.7%
18	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,380	$38,810 – $72,500	+13.6%
19	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$47,680 – $86,590	+13.1%
20	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,280	$44,080 – $75,230	+13.0%
21	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,220	$39,090 – $80,130	+12.9%
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,830	$49,710 – $88,890	+12.7%
23	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,480	$37,340 – $83,530	+11.9%
24	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$45,680	$32,510 – $52,690	+10.8%
25	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,050	$37,630 – $108,820	+10.4%
26	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,450	$47,020 – $76,920	+10.3%
27	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$52,160	$44,190 – $62,810	+10.1%
28	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,180	$38,710 – $71,100	+10.0%
29	Soil and Plant ScientistsBachelor's degree	$86,380	$66,790 – $171,080	+9.5%
30	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,460	$36,290 – $63,170	+9.3%
31	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$74,140	$47,720 – $96,000	+9.2%
32	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$62,630	$45,140 – $88,050	+8.9%
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,130	$49,580 – $92,540	+8.7%
34	ClergyBachelor's degree	$65,670	$51,550 – $71,190	+8.0%
35	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$67,210	$49,410 – $71,620	+7.5%
36	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,790	$38,320 – $77,210	+7.0%
37	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,940	$26,620 – $52,270	+6.4%
38	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,190	$42,470 – $97,720	+6.3%
39	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$82,390	$52,530 – $135,190	+6.1%
40	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$49,960	$36,590 – $74,020	+6.0%
41	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$41,060 – $75,610	+5.9%
42	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$40,400 – $58,220	+5.8%
43	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,350	$37,840 – $64,460	+5.8%
44	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,900	$69,910 – $212,170	+5.3%
45	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$111,470	$75,540 – $136,970	+5.3%
46	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$66,060	$43,000 – $85,400	+4.9%
47	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$49,150	$30,300 – $68,680	+4.9%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,520	$57,100 – $118,480	+4.5%
49	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$38,450	$28,940 – $44,390	+4.4%
50	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,050	$47,000 – $95,940	+4.1%

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