Waiters and Waitresses salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Waiters and Waitresses in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $28,740 a year ($13.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,190 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% higher than the Indiana statewide median of $28,480. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,480 | $8.41 |
| 25th percentile | $21,470 | $10.32 |
| Median | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| 75th percentile | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,190 | $23.65 |
| Average (mean) | $31,830 | $15.30 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $2,395 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,197.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,105.38 |
| Weekly | $552.69 |
| Hourly | $13.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $44,920 | 930 |
| Flint, MI | $44,030 | 2,120 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,930 | 8,080 |
| Traverse City, MI | $41,380 | 1,610 |
| Bay City, MI | $40,500 | 570 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $40,230 | 2,710 |
| Jackson, MI | $39,920 | 810 |
| Saginaw, MI | $39,430 | 1,470 |
| Monroe, MI | $38,780 | 660 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,210 | 2,710 |
| Niles, MI | $38,130 | 1,390 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,760 | 1,740 |
| Midland, MI | $37,750 | 430 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,490 | 29,210 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,530 | 17,790 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,370 | 750 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 54,100 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,180 | 10,220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $29,050 | 15,830 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 | 3,150 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,550 | 2,070 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,540 | 1,620 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,420 | 690 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,420 | 1,490 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,260 | 680 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,060 | 1,070 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $26,520 | 1,050 |
| Columbus, IN | $26,340 | 490 |
| Muncie, IN | $23,720 | 730 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses 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 |
| Bartender | $23,000 | $11.06 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $28,740 a year, or $13.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $49,190 a year. The top 25% earn $37,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,480 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $21,470 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 1,970 waiters and waitresses are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.