Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters salary in South Bend, IN
Median pay for plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters in South Bend, IN: $66,150/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $40,690 – $94,890 · about 560 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($59,690) by +$6,460 (+11%).
What it's really worth in South Bend
With South Bend's cost of living at 91 (US=100), that $66,150 has the buying power of about $72,392 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $62,448 · median home $238,866 · median rent $1,340/mo.
How South Bend ranks for this job
On raw pay, South Bend, IN is 44th of the 187 metros we hold plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters wages for. Once South Bend's cost of living is applied, it ranks 34th.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so South Bend sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in South Bend
A median home in South Bend, IN costs $238,866 — about 3.6× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,340/mo works out at 24% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to South Bend.
| Metro | Median pay | vs South Bend | Rent vs South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $101,560 | +54% | 1.7× |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,150 | +47% | 1.3× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $96,200 | +45% | 1.3× |
| Duluth, MN | $88,000 | +33% | 1× |
Same job elsewhere in IN
| Metro | Median pay | vs South Bend | Rent vs South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | $75,590 | +14% | 0.9× |
| Indianapolis, IN | $67,420 | +2% | 1.2× |
| Evansville, IN | $59,530 | −10% | 0.8× |
Staying in IN keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters around South Bend
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- AM General LLC · Manufacturing
Other jobs in South Bend
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.