Cooks, Restaurant salary in Michigan
Cooks, Restaurant in Michigan earn a median of $36,980 a year ($17.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 39,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,030 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $37,390. Michigan ranks 24th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| 25th percentile | $34,770 | $16.72 |
| Median | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| 75th percentile | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| Average (mean) | $37,570 | $18.06 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,081.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,540.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,422.31 |
| Weekly | $711.15 |
| Hourly | $17.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $38,290 | 1,600 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,410 | 16,490 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $37,360 | 4,850 |
| Traverse City, MI | $37,270 | 1,060 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $37,100 | 1,850 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $37,000 | 520 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $36,760 | 1,140 |
| Jackson, MI | $36,680 | 520 |
| Niles, MI | $36,610 | 840 |
| Midland, MI | $36,540 | 260 |
| Flint, MI | $36,350 | 1,330 |
| Monroe, MI | $36,200 | 440 |
| Saginaw, MI | $36,000 | 780 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $35,810 | 600 |
| Bay City, MI | $35,420 | 330 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $34,650 | 1,300 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
Related jobs in Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.72 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, All Other | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,760 | $18.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Bartender | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,070 | $28.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Michigan?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Michigan is $36,980 a year, or $17.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Michigan?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Michigan earn at least $46,030 a year. The top 25% earn $42,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,570 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,770 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Michigan?
About 39,100 cooks, restaurant are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.