Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

Median annual salary $60,320 -1.1% vs national
Median hourly $29.00
10th percentile $46,460
90th percentile $74,310
Employed locally 140
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Kalamazoo, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,460
    25th
    $50,240
    50th (median)
    $60,320
    75th
    $67,630
    90th
    $74,310

    Kalamazoo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 86% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 14% 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 Kalamazoo, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,840
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,930
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,150
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,270
    Bartenders $43,150
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,140

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Kalamazoo, MI is $29.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $42.38 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Kalamazoo, MI is 1.1% 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 Kalamazoo?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $46,460 per year in Kalamazoo, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $50,240.