How much does a food server make in South Bend?
$29,800a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area. That is $14.33 an hour or $2,483 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.33
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 263 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,180Median: $29,800Highest 10%: $36,240
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,180 | $12.59 | |
| 25th | $27,950 | $13.44 | |
| Median | $29,800 | $14.33 | |
| 75th | $34,390 | $16.53 | |
| 90th | $36,240 | $17.42 |
Other cities in Indiana
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Chicago, IL | $35,670 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 |
| Elkhart, IN | $34,630 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,400 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,860 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $31,960 |
| Louisville, KY | $31,780 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,510 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,360 |
| Lafayette, IN | $29,990 |
Related jobs in South Bend
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,180 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,740 |
| Cook | $37,010 |
| Cook | $34,650 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,970 |
| Cook | $29,540 |
| Dishwasher | $29,090 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,080 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,740 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,140 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in South Bend?
The median hourly pay in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $14.33 ($29,800 a year).
Do food servers make more in South Bend than the national average?
No: $29,800 against $35,360 nationally, 16% less.
How does South Bend compare with the rest of Indiana?
The median in Indiana is $31,840, so South Bend pays 6% less.
Where does South Bend rank for food server pay?
263 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,180 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,240 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.