Firefighters pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,190 or more. The middle half of firefighters in South Bend earn between $50,300 and $61,190.
- $40K10th
- $50K25th
- $56KMedian
- $61K75th
- $70K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,960 | $4,663 | $26.90 |
| Median | $56,450 | $4,704 | $27.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,300 | $4,192 | $24.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,190 | $5,099 | $29.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Firefighters in South Bend earn 10% less than the Indiana average ($62,420) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $55,960 | $56,450 | $39,520 | $70,190 | 440 |
| Indiana | $62,420 | $62,780 | $38,460 | $81,890 | 8,530 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $55,960, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $44,533 a year, or $3,711 a month and $1,713 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 | $45,012 | $3,751 |
| Working in IN | $44,533 | $3,711 |
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 firefighters? 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 $55,960 buys what about $60,264 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 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 8th of 11 Indiana metro areas for this job; Fort Wayne pays the most ($70,360).
- Fort Wayne$70,360
- Indianapolis$67,110
- Evansville$67,060
- Michigan City$64,660
- Lafayette$61,520
- Elkhart$60,430
- Muncie$58,750
- South Bend$55,960
- Terre Haute$51,050
- Columbus$49,600
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in South Bend: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in South Bend?
$26.90 an hour on average, and $27.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in South Bend?
About $44,533 a year ($3,711 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,960. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do firefighters earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-2011; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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