Fast Food and Counter Workers pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,630 or more. The middle half of fast food and counter workers in South Bend earn between $23,900 and $29,740.
- $22K10th
- $24K25th
- $28KMedian
- $30K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,130 | $2,344 | $13.52 |
| Median | $28,140 | $2,345 | $13.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,900 | $1,992 | $11.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,740 | $2,478 | $14.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Fast food and counter workers in South Bend earn about the same as the Indiana average ($28,980) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($32,150). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $31,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $28,130 | $28,140 | $21,810 | $34,630 | 4,240 |
| Indiana | $28,980 | $28,790 | $22,110 | $35,820 | 97,290 |
| United States | $32,150 | $31,200 | $22,840 | $42,650 | 3,854,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $28,130, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $23,486 a year, or $1,957 a month and $903 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 | $23,826 | $1,986 |
| Working in IN | $23,486 | $1,957 |
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 fast food and counter workers? 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 $28,130 buys what about $30,294 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 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 8th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($29,780).
- Indianapolis$29,780
- Kokomo$29,620
- Fort Wayne$28,900
- Elkhart$28,590
- Michigan City$28,490
- Bloomington$28,410
- Columbus$28,300
- South Bend$28,130
- Lafayette$28,120
- Evansville$27,890
Highest-paying cities for fast food and counter workers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($44,980).
- San Jose, CA$44,980
- San Francisco, CA$44,620
- Napa, CA$44,010
- Vallejo, CA$42,760
- Santa Rosa, CA$42,640
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Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in South Bend: questions
How much do fast food and counter workers make an hour in South Bend?
$13.53 an hour on average, and $13.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level fast food and counter workers salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the fast food and counter workers take-home pay in South Bend?
About $23,486 a year ($1,957 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,130. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do fast food and counter workers earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,150).
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 35-3023; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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