Cooks, Fast Food pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,170 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in South Bend earn between $28,900 and $29,540.
- $26K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $30K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,740 | $2,478 | $14.30 |
| Median | $29,540 | $2,462 | $14.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,900 | $2,408 | $13.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,540 | $2,462 | $14.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in South Bend earn 3% less than the Indiana average ($30,720) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $29,740 | $29,540 | $25,960 | $36,170 | 560 |
| Indiana | $30,720 | $29,870 | $24,050 | $37,310 | 6,830 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $29,740, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $24,711 a year, or $2,059 a month and $950 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 | $25,059 | $2,088 |
| Working in IN | $24,711 | $2,059 |
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 cooks, fast food? 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 $29,740 buys what about $32,027 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 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 3rd of 5 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($31,760).
- Indianapolis$31,760
- Lafayette$30,010
- South Bend$29,740
- Bloomington$29,660
- Terre Haute$28,160
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in South Bend: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in South Bend?
$14.30 an hour on average, and $14.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in South Bend?
About $24,711 a year ($2,059 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,740. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do cooks, fast food earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
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 35-2011; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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