Cooks, Restaurant salary in Traverse City, MI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median of $37,270 a year ($17.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,510 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Michigan statewide median of $36,980. There are 15 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Traverse City, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,690 | $14.27 |
| 25th percentile | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| Median | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| 75th percentile | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,510 | $22.36 |
| Average (mean) | $38,160 | $18.35 |
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 | $3,105.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,552.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,433.46 |
| Weekly | $716.73 |
| Hourly | $17.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Traverse City, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,980 | $15.37 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,560 | $13.73 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| Bartender | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| Dishwasher | $31,130 | $14.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,000 | $27.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Traverse City, MI
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 Traverse City, MI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $37,270 a year, or $17.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Traverse City, MI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn at least $46,510 a year. The top 25% earn $43,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Traverse City, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,690 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,300 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Traverse City, MI?
About 1,060 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Traverse City, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.