Jobs that pay the biggest premium in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI

Each occupation's median wage in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI run 7.1% below the national average (2024), so a South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI

OccupationMedian, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI · vs. national

1General Internal Medicine Physicians$485,900
Doctoral or professional degree
$213,150 – $612,970+89.4%
2Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$80,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,010 – $102,020+34.4%
3Sheet Metal Workers$81,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,950 – $104,040+31.5%
4Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators$52,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,460 – $73,300+22.2%
5Chief Executives$261,280
Bachelor's degree
$102,010 – $437,340+22.1%
6Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$60,080
No formal educational credential
$34,160 – $67,280+20.9%
7Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $84,760+18.4%
8Structural Iron and Steel Workers$73,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,820 – $93,070+17.3%
9Electricians$74,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,100 – $100,610+17.3%
10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,420 – $99,060+16.3%
11Mechanical Door Repairers$64,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $80,250+16.0%
12Helpers--Production Workers$45,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $55,270+15.6%
13Crossing Guards and Flaggers$43,010
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $64,230+12.9%
14Roofers$62,400
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $78,430+12.6%
15Physicians, All Other$295,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,390 – $405,340+11.1%
16Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,810 – $60,460+11.0%
17First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$53,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,850 – $69,610+10.5%
18Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,840 – $78,260+9.8%
19Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,390 – $125,230+8.9%
20Construction Laborers$50,870
No formal educational credential
$36,910 – $86,160+8.0%
21Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$57,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $59,060+7.8%
22Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,090
Associate's degree
$40,170 – $100,970+6.4%
23Glaziers$60,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,290 – $82,890+5.8%
24Surgical Technologists$67,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,470 – $114,200+4.7%
25Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$41,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,020 – $51,360+4.6%
26Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,520
No formal educational credential
$43,730 – $75,000+4.4%
27Paramedics$63,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,400 – $65,950+4.3%
28First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$82,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,130 – $112,630+3.2%
29First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$50,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $89,990+3.0%
30Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$62,010
Master's degree
$46,390 – $77,950+2.9%
31Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$44,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,660 – $50,440+2.7%
32Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+2.5%
33Insurance Sales Agents$63,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $200,300+2.5%
34Butchers and Meat Cutters$41,160
No formal educational credential
$29,630 – $49,610+2.5%
35Pharmacists$144,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$110,800 – $164,290+2.2%
36Carpenters$61,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,090 – $78,710+1.8%
37Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$48,500
Some college, no degree
$30,460 – $60,680+1.4%
38First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$59,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,750 – $77,110+1.4%
39Dentists, General$173,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,010 – $341,020+1.3%
40Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,110 – $61,810+1.3%
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,970 – $77,680+1.3%
42First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $77,900+1.2%
43Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,200 – $81,990+1.1%
44Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$78,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,350 – $95,680+1.1%
45Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$46,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,330 – $66,960+1.1%
46Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,110 – $81,770+1.0%
47Automotive Body and Related Repairers$55,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,400 – $92,450+0.9%
48Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$45,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,670 – $58,780+0.8%
49Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,720
Bachelor's degree
$22,740 – $87,240+0.8%
50First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,150 – $91,340+0.6%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSouth Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$485,900	$213,150 – $612,970	+89.4%
2	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,460	$48,010 – $102,020	+34.4%
3	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,270	$44,950 – $104,040	+31.5%
4	Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,990	$34,460 – $73,300	+22.2%
5	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$261,280	$102,010 – $437,340	+22.1%
6	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$60,080	$34,160 – $67,280	+20.9%
7	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,540	$48,530 – $84,760	+18.4%
8	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,640	$47,820 – $93,070	+17.3%
9	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,150	$43,100 – $100,610	+17.3%
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,190	$46,420 – $99,060	+16.3%
11	Mechanical Door RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,640	$44,500 – $80,250	+16.0%
12	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,170	$35,000 – $55,270	+15.6%
13	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$43,010	$32,240 – $64,230	+12.9%
14	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$62,400	$43,120 – $78,430	+12.6%
15	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$295,480	$74,390 – $405,340	+11.1%
16	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,810	$33,810 – $60,460	+11.0%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,640	$35,850 – $69,610	+10.5%
18	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,090	$34,840 – $78,260	+9.8%
19	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,790	$76,390 – $125,230	+8.9%
20	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$50,870	$36,910 – $86,160	+8.0%
21	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,510	$45,930 – $59,060	+7.8%
22	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,090	$40,170 – $100,970	+6.4%
23	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,380	$48,290 – $82,890	+5.8%
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,660	$52,470 – $114,200	+4.7%
25	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,200	$31,020 – $51,360	+4.6%
26	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,520	$43,730 – $75,000	+4.4%
27	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,200	$48,400 – $65,950	+4.3%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,470	$56,130 – $112,630	+3.2%
29	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,030	$36,470 – $89,990	+3.0%
30	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$62,010	$46,390 – $77,950	+2.9%
31	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,530	$36,660 – $50,440	+2.7%
32	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	+2.5%
33	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,860	$38,700 – $200,300	+2.5%
34	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$41,160	$29,630 – $49,610	+2.5%
35	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$144,030	$110,800 – $164,290	+2.2%
36	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,690	$45,090 – $78,710	+1.8%
37	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$48,500	$30,460 – $60,680	+1.4%
38	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,250	$40,750 – $77,110	+1.4%
39	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$173,140	$76,010 – $341,020	+1.3%
40	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,170	$37,110 – $61,810	+1.3%
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,240	$51,970 – $77,680	+1.3%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,710	$37,450 – $77,900	+1.2%
43	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,070	$46,200 – $81,990	+1.1%
44	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$78,530	$50,350 – $95,680	+1.1%
45	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,410	$36,330 – $66,960	+1.1%
46	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,180	$46,110 – $81,770	+1.0%
47	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,360	$37,400 – $92,450	+0.9%
48	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,940	$36,670 – $58,780	+0.8%
49	Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysBachelor's degree	$47,720	$22,740 – $87,240	+0.8%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,250	$43,150 – $91,340	+0.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI

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