Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

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

Median annual salary $29,110 -3.5% vs national
Median hourly $14.00
10th percentile $24,690
90th percentile $36,110
Employed locally 300
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Kalamazoo, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,690
    25th
    $28,220
    50th (median)
    $29,110
    75th
    $34,290
    90th
    $36,110

    Kalamazoo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Elmira, NY $32,200
    Wyoming $32,190
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $32,050
    Bloomington, IL $31,430
    Minnesota $30,810
    Missoula, MT $30,560

    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 Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Kalamazoo?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Kalamazoo, MI is $14.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.22 or more per hour.

    Is Kalamazoo above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Kalamazoo, MI is 3.5% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Kalamazoo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $24,690 per year in Kalamazoo, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,220.