Bartender salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Bartenders in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $23,000 a year ($11.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,130 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% higher than the Indiana statewide median of $22,770. There are 4.4 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,650 | $8.00 |
| 25th percentile | $19,880 | $9.56 |
| Median | $23,000 | $11.06 |
| 75th percentile | $34,160 | $16.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Average (mean) | $28,530 | $13.72 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,916.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $958.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $884.62 |
| Weekly | $442.31 |
| Hourly | $11.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $40,230 | 870 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $39,430 | 260 |
| Niles, MI | $38,970 | 520 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,430 | 2,730 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $38,300 | 780 |
| Midland, MI | $38,170 | 130 |
| Monroe, MI | $37,800 | 260 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,660 | 580 |
| Traverse City, MI | $37,300 | 610 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $36,960 | 410 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,780 | 7,660 |
| Saginaw, MI | $36,550 | 390 |
| Flint, MI | $36,130 | 700 |
| Jackson, MI | $35,740 | 260 |
| Bay City, MI | $34,720 | 220 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,240 | 5,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,120 | 2,830 |
| Columbus, IN | $23,700 | 150 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $23,120 | 210 |
| Kokomo, IN | $23,060 | 180 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23,010 | 850 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $22,880 | 4,480 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $22,680 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $22,430 | 250 |
| Bloomington, IN | $22,370 | 440 |
| Evansville, IN | $22,360 | 590 |
| Muncie, IN | $21,780 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,090 | 410 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,800 | $14.33 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,970 | $14.41 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,010 | $17.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Dishwasher | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,180 | $27.49 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for bartenders in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $23,000 a year, or $11.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of bartenders in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $45,130 a year. The top 25% earn $34,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,650 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $19,880 or less.
How many bartenders work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 580 bartenders are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.