Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $60,460 -0.9% vs national
Median hourly $29.07
10th percentile $40,070
90th percentile $79,970
Employed locally 580
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Grand Rapids, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,070
    25th
    $50,500
    50th (median)
    $60,460
    75th
    $68,640
    90th
    $79,970

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 75% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 25% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $78,930
    Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area $67,280
    Wyoming $64,790
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,360
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $62,980
    Birmingham, AL $62,800

    Related occupations in Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,020
    Waiters and Waitresses$36,260
    Cooks, Restaurant$36,950
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,190
    Bartenders$46,470
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$27,810

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Grand Rapids?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Grand Rapids, MI is $29.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.06 or more per hour.

    Is Grand Rapids above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 0.9% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $40,070 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,500.