Cooks, Restaurant salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Cooks, Restaurant in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $34,650 a year ($16.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,190 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $35,170. There are 9.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,740, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 |
| 25th percentile | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Median | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| 75th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Average (mean) | $33,740 | $16.22 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,887.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,443.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,332.69 |
| Weekly | $666.35 |
| Hourly | $16.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,650 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $38,290 | 1,600 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,410 | 16,490 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $37,360 | 4,850 |
| Traverse City, MI | $37,270 | 1,060 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $37,100 | 1,850 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $37,000 | 520 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $36,760 | 1,140 |
| Jackson, MI | $36,680 | 520 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,610 | 9,180 |
| Niles, MI | $36,610 | 840 |
| Midland, MI | $36,540 | 260 |
| Flint, MI | $36,350 | 1,330 |
| Monroe, MI | $36,200 | 440 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Saginaw, MI | $36,000 | 780 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $35,810 | 600 |
| Bay City, MI | $35,420 | 330 |
| Kokomo, IN | $35,300 | 370 |
| Bloomington, IN | $34,910 | 930 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $34,870 | 930 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 | 2,030 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,290 | 1,330 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,770 | 640 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,050 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,860 | 490 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 | 600 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,740 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,970 | $14.41 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,010 | $17.80 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Bartender | $23,000 | $11.06 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Dishwasher | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,800 | $14.33 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 cooks, restaurant make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $34,650 a year, or $16.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $44,190 a year. The top 25% earn $36,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,960 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,740 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 1,300 cooks, restaurant are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.