Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,410 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in South Bend earn between $39,470 and $67,240.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $57KMedian
- $67K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,090 | $4,758 | $27.45 |
| Median | $57,180 | $4,765 | $27.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,470 | $3,289 | $18.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,240 | $5,603 | $32.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in South Bend earn 4% more than the Indiana average ($55,060) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $57,090 | $57,180 | $36,310 | $80,410 | 80 |
| Indiana | $55,060 | $52,190 | $30,930 | $82,430 | 1,940 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $57,090, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $45,388 a year, or $3,782 a month and $1,746 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MI | $45,872 | $3,823 |
| Working in IN | $45,388 | $3,782 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Is South Bend a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the South Bend area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $57,090 buys what about $61,481 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in South Bend ($46,540). A typical home costs $238,866, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 3rd of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job; Terre Haute pays the most ($70,410).
- Terre Haute$70,410
- Bloomington$57,780
- South Bend$57,090
- Indianapolis$53,360
- Fort Wayne$52,920
- Evansville$49,720
- Lafayette$46,030
- Muncie$42,840
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in South Bend: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in South Bend?
$27.45 an hour on average, and $27.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in South Bend?
About $45,388 a year ($3,782 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,090. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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