Waiters and Waitresses pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,190 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in South Bend earn between $21,470 and $37,070.
- $17K10th
- $21K25th
- $29KMedian
- $37K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,830 | $2,652 | $15.30 |
| Median | $28,740 | $2,395 | $13.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,470 | $1,789 | $10.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,070 | $3,089 | $17.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in South Bend earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,170) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $31,830 | $28,740 | $17,480 | $49,190 | 1,970 |
| Indiana | $31,170 | $28,480 | $17,640 | $48,350 | 43,620 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $31,830, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $26,291 a year, or $2,191 a month and $1,011 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 | $26,649 | $2,221 |
| Working in IN | $26,291 | $2,191 |
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 waiters and waitresses? 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 $31,830 buys what about $34,278 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in South Bend ($46,540). A typical home costs $238,866, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 2nd of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($32,300).
- Indianapolis$32,300
- South Bend$31,830
- Lafayette$31,040
- Fort Wayne$30,730
- Evansville$30,650
- Bloomington$30,630
- Michigan City$30,490
- Kokomo$30,420
- Elkhart$30,140
- Columbus$30,060
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in South Bend: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in South Bend?
$15.30 an hour on average, and $13.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in South Bend?
About $26,291 a year ($2,191 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,830. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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