Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in South Bend, IN-MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI

Median annual salary $56,790 -6.9% vs national
Median hourly $27.30
10th percentile $37,840
90th percentile $87,380
Employed locally 100
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how South Bend, IN-MI stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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South Bend, IN-MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,840
    25th
    $48,780
    50th (median)
    $56,790
    75th
    $74,910
    90th
    $87,380

    South Bend economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,385 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 87% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 13% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $78,930
    Salinas, CA $73,260
    Vineland, NJ $72,740
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $71,790
    Washington $69,800

    Related occupations in South Bend, IN-MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,790
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,510
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,160
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,460
    Bartenders $22,920
    Food Preparation Workers $30,340

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in South Bend?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in South Bend, IN-MI is $27.30, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.66 or more per hour.

    Is South Bend above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in South Bend, IN-MI is 6.9% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in South Bend?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $37,840 per year in South Bend, IN-MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,780.