Accountant salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
For this job South Bend-Mishawaka sits right at the Indiana figure, with a median of $77,940 a year1. That is about level with the Indiana statewide median of $77,720, and 6.9% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #195 of 521. BLS counts about 1,020 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in South Bend-Mishawaka against Indiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $51,310 | $77,940 | $120,910 | |
| Indiana | $50,950 | $77,720 | $125,880 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $120,910, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in South Bend-Mishawaka earns $63,030–$98,510. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,480 wide, against $37,750 across Indiana and $42,790 nationally: employers in South Bend-Mishawaka pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,310 | $4,276 | $24.67 | $66,206 |
| 25th percentile | $63,030 | $5,252 | $30.30 | $81,329 |
| Median | $77,940 | $6,495 | $37.47 | $100,568 |
| 75th percentile | $98,510 | $8,209 | $47.36 | $127,110 |
| 90th percentile | $120,910 | $10,076 | $58.13 | $156,013 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $20,570 a year in pay and about $26,542 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $14,910 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in South Bend-Mishawaka, and the Indiana statewide median of $77,720 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in South Bend-Mishawaka
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,628 to the $77,940 median and brings it to $100,568 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in South Bend-Mishawaka
Of the 17 roles we track in South Bend-Mishawaka, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($84,820); office managers come next at $65,610.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +8.8% | 410 | |
| Accountant | this role | 1,020 | |
| Office Manager | -15.8% | 920 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.9% | 620 | |
| Recruiter | -18.3% | 670 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in South Bend-Mishawaka (-6.9%), between office managers (-5.6%) and medical administrative assistants (-7.3%). The typical role here is at -9.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 9.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in South Bend-Mishawaka, 9.6% across Indiana and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Indiana
Across the 15 areas of Indiana with data for this job, the median runs from $63,170 in Terre Haute to $79,290 in Indianapolis-Carmel, a gap of $16,120 a year. Of the 5 areas in Indiana with more accountants than South Bend-Mishawaka, 4 pay less, the largest of them Fort Wayne, IN ($75,250), the Northern Indiana nonmetro area ($73,570) and the Southern Indiana nonmetro area ($72,580).
| Area | Median | vs South Bend-Mishawaka | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | +1.7% | 11,210 | |
| Columbus, IN | +1.0% | 330 | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | this area | 1,020 | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | -0.3% | 570 | |
| Kokomo, IN | -0.5% | 170 | |
| Evansville, IN | -0.6% | 1,050 | |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | -0.7% | 990 |
South Bend-Mishawaka against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, South Bend-Mishawaka is #190 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Indiana, New Orleans-Metairie and Flagstaff pay just above South Bend-Mishawaka and Wilmington and Owensboro just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in South Bend-Mishawaka. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs South Bend-Mishawaka | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | +19.7% | 1,020 | jobs | |
| Appleton, WI | +3.1% | 1,020 | jobs | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | +0.1% | 380 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | +0.0% | 3,740 | pay | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | this area | 1,020 | ||
| Wilmington, NC | -0.0% | 1,520 | pay | |
| Owensboro, KY | -0.2% | 250 | pay | |
| Gainesville, FL | -2.7% | 1,010 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About $100,568 a year at the median, or $8,381 a month: $77,940 in pay plus about $22,628 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in South Bend-Mishawaka?
The median was $77,940 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,310, the 90th $120,910, and the middle half earned $63,030 to $98,510.
Is South Bend-Mishawaka cheaper than the rest of Indiana for accountants?
About the same: a median of $77,940 against $77,720 statewide. The next area up in Indiana is Columbus at $78,740, the next down Lafayette-West Lafayette at $77,740.
How many accountants work in South Bend-Mishawaka?
BLS counts about 1,020 in the May 2025 survey. 5 areas in Indiana have more; the closest in size is Evansville, with about 1,050.
Does an accountant cost more than an office manager in South Bend-Mishawaka?
Yes: $12,330 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,940 and $65,610.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.