Cooks, Fast Food Salary in South Bend, IN-MI

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

Median annual salary $28,670 -4.9% vs national
Median hourly $13.78
10th percentile $21,650
90th percentile $42,710
Employed locally 330
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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South Bend, IN-MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,650
    25th
    $23,960
    50th (median)
    $28,670
    75th
    $31,580
    90th
    $42,710

    South Bend economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,385 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $39,120
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $38,040
    Salinas, CA $37,960
    Washington $36,800
    Redding, CA $36,780
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $36,190

    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 Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in South Bend?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in South Bend, IN-MI is $13.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.39 or more per hour.

    Is South Bend above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in South Bend, IN-MI is 4.9% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in South Bend?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $21,650 per year in South Bend, IN-MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,960.