How Much Does an RN Make in South Bend, IN in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in South Bend, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Indiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · South Bend · Mishawaka metro area
A typical RN in South Bend, Indiana earns $44.97 per hour, or $93,540 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,795 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $141,390.
That pay is 12% above the Indiana figure of $83,500 and 4% below the national figure of $97,550. South Bend ranks 2nd of 14 metro areas in Indiana for RN pay. About 3,370 RNs work in the South Bend · Mishawaka area. South Bend is part of the South Bend · Mishawaka metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Mishawaka share these figures.
RN pay in South Bend at a glance
- Typical pay is $44.97 an hour, or $93,540 a year.
- That is 12% above the Indiana figure, ranking 2nd of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,870; the top 10% make over $141,390.
- Typical pay rose +60% from 2015 to 2025, against +44% for Indiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in South Bend?
Pay in South Bend runs from entry-level positions at around $32.15 an hour to more than $67.97 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Indiana and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in South Bend
| Career stage | South Bend | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $66,870$32.15 an hour | $66,750$32.09 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $80,700$38.80 an hour | $78,750$37.86 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $93,540$44.97 an hour | $83,500$40.14 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $116,340$55.93 an hour | $100,410$48.28 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $141,390$67.97 an hour | $105,750$50.84 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the South Bend · Mishawaka area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in South Bend
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the South Bend · Mishawaka area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in South Bend was $58,310 a year. By 2025 it had reached $93,540, a change of +60%, compared with +44% for Indiana over the same years.
How South Bend compares with other Indiana cities
Naperville pays RNs the most in Indiana at $100,490 a year, $6,950 more than South Bend. The lowest-paying area in the state is Columbus at $77,030.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs South Bend | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naperville metro incl. Elgin | $100,490 | $48.31 | +7% | 100,240 |
| 2 | South Bend metro incl. Mishawaka | $93,540 | $44.97 | this city | 3,370 |
| 3 | Goshen metro incl. Elkhart | $88,100 | $42.36 | -6% | 1,650 |
| 4 | Jefferson County | $84,850 | $40.79 | -9% | 18,180 |
| 5 | Carmel metro incl. Indianapolis · Greenwood | $84,230 | $40.50 | -10% | 25,800 |
| 6 | Evansville | $83,820 | $40.30 | -10% | 3,890 |
| 7 | Kokomo | $83,370 | $40.08 | -11% | 740 |
| 8 | Michigan City metro incl. La Porte | $82,300 | $39.57 | -12% | 790 |
| 9 | Terre Haute | $81,550 | $39.21 | -13% | 1,600 |
| 10 | Lafayette metro incl. West Lafayette | $80,790 | $38.84 | -14% | 2,080 |
| 11 | Bloomington | $80,370 | $38.64 | -14% | 1,630 |
| 12 | Fort Wayne | $79,630 | $38.29 | -15% | 6,450 |
| 13 | Muncie | $79,500 | $38.22 | -15% | 1,220 |
| 14 | Columbus | $77,030 | $37.03 | -18% | 640 |
Every metro area in Indiana with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Indiana typical pay $83,500
Is South Bend a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in South Bend sits close to the national figure: $93,540 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the South Bend · Mishawaka area, about 26 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in South Bend, IN?
- A typical RN in South Bend earns $93,540 a year, or $44.97 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $66,870 and the top 10% earn over $141,390.
- How much does an RN make an hour in South Bend?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in South Bend is $44.97. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.15, and the top 10% earn over $67.97 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in South Bend?
- Entry-level RN positions in South Bend typically offer around $32.15 an hour, or $66,870 a year.
- Is RN pay in South Bend higher than in the rest of Indiana?
- South Bend pay is 12% above the Indiana figure of $83,500 a year, ranking 2nd of 14 metro areas in the state. Naperville pays the most in Indiana at $100,490.