Cooks, Restaurant pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,190 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in South Bend earn between $28,740 and $36,790.
- $26K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,740 | $2,812 | $16.22 |
| Median | $34,650 | $2,888 | $16.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,740 | $2,395 | $13.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,790 | $3,066 | $17.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in South Bend earn about the same as the Indiana average ($34,150) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $33,740 | $34,650 | $25,960 | $44,190 | 1,300 |
| Indiana | $34,150 | $35,170 | $26,000 | $44,190 | 26,960 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $33,740, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $27,735 a year, or $2,311 a month and $1,067 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 | $28,103 | $2,342 |
| Working in IN | $27,735 | $2,311 |
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 cooks, restaurant? 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 $33,740 buys what about $36,335 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in South Bend ($46,540). A typical home costs $238,866, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 4th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($35,550).
- Indianapolis$35,550
- Kokomo$34,190
- Elkhart$34,010
- South Bend$33,740
- Bloomington$33,660
- Lafayette$33,300
- Evansville$33,210
- Fort Wayne$33,180
- Michigan City$32,800
- Columbus$32,610
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in South Bend: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in South Bend?
$16.22 an hour on average, and $16.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in South Bend?
About $27,735 a year ($2,311 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,740. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
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 35-2014; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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