Chefs and Head Cooks salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Chefs and Head Cooks in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $57,180 a year ($27.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,410 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 10% higher than the Indiana statewide median of $52,190. There are 0.62 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $57,090, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| 25th percentile | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Median | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| 75th percentile | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| Average (mean) | $57,090 | $27.45 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $4,765 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,382.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,199.23 |
| Weekly | $1,099.62 |
| Hourly | $27.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 | 50 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $63,050 | 150 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $61,890 | 610 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $60,910 | 260 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $60,870 | 2,660 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| Midland, MI | $59,700 | 30 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $59,540 | 80 |
| Jackson, MI | $59,510 | 50 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $59,280 | 210 |
| Niles, MI | $58,570 | 120 |
| Flint, MI | $57,800 | 110 |
| Traverse City, MI | $57,000 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $56,580 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 | 100 |
| Saginaw, MI | $51,430 | 80 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 | 120 |
| Bay City, MI | $49,310 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,010 | 960 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $40,300 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $37,920 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,970 | $14.41 |
| Bartender | $23,000 | $11.06 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,800 | $14.33 |
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 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $57,180 a year, or $27.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $80,410 a year. The top 25% earn $67,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,310 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $39,470 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 80 chefs and head cooks are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.