Average Salaries in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Explore salaries across 389 occupations in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $62.2K, -5.5% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 389 occupations and 125,740 total jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI.
How the metro compares
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI pays modestly below the national average. That can be partly offset by a lower cost of living compared with higher-paying markets.
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI is a smaller metro labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is General Internal Medicine Physicians. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $485.9K | 140 |
| Physicians, All Other | $295.5K | 200 |
| Chief Executives | $261.3K | 60 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $219.3K | 50 |
| Dentists, General | $173.1K | 100 |
| Architectural And Engineering Managers | $144.9K | 110 |
| Pharmacists | $144K | 270 |
| Optometrists | $138.4K | 30 |
| Physician Assistants | $129.6K | 100 |
| Financial Managers | $128.4K | 580 |
Largest occupations in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 4,240 | $28.1K |
| Retail Salespersons | 4,000 | $30.9K |
| Registered Nurses | 3,370 | $93.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 3,240 | $34.8K |
| Cashiers | 2,820 | $29K |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,770 | $41.6K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 2,660 | $38.8K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 2,580 | $36.8K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,140 | $35.8K |
| General And Operations Managers | 2,070 | $104.5K |
What South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI than in the country as a whole, which signals what this metro is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling Surveillance Officers And Gambling Investigators | 10.72 | $53K |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 8.22 | $75.6K |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, And Tenders, Metal And Plastic | 7.87 | $46.1K |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 6.01 | $80.3K |
| Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 5.96 | $75.6K |
| Philosophy And Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 5.68 | $79.7K |
| Recreation And Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 5.67 | $62.8K |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators And Tenders | 5.56 | $39.4K |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 5.45 | $65.2K |
| Foreign Language And Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 5.10 | $72K |
Comparable metros
| Metro | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92.6K | Cardiologists |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87.1K | Cardiologists |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83.8K | Radiologists |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82.7K | Radiologists |
| Boulder, CO | $82.3K | Surgeons, All Other |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82.3K | Radiologists |
Common salary questions for South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other metros with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.