Cooks, Restaurant Salary in South Bend, IN-MI

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

Median annual salary $35,160 -4.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.90
10th percentile $27,380
90th percentile $43,940
Employed locally 1,350
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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South Bend, IN-MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,380
    25th
    $28,750
    50th (median)
    $35,160
    75th
    $36,620
    90th
    $43,940

    South Bend economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,385 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 54% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 46% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $45,450
    Washington $44,980
    Maine $44,870
    Salinas, CA $44,490
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $44,370
    Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $43,740

    Related occupations in South Bend, IN-MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,790
    Waiters and Waitresses$28,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,460
    Bartenders$22,920
    Food Preparation Workers$30,340
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$29,620

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in South Bend?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in South Bend, IN-MI is $16.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.25 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in South Bend, IN-MI is 4.5% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,380 per year in South Bend, IN-MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,750.