Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

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

Median annual salary $36,140 -0.9% vs national
Median hourly $17.37
10th percentile $27,580
90th percentile $40,840
Employed locally 450
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Kalamazoo, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,580
    25th
    $30,190
    50th (median)
    $36,140
    75th
    $37,650
    90th
    $40,840

    Kalamazoo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $43,200
    Minnesota $42,180
    Ann Arbor, MI $40,330
    Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $40,150
    Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $39,360
    Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $39,220

    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
    Food Preparation Workers $30,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Kalamazoo?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Kalamazoo, MI is $17.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.23 or more per hour.

    Is Kalamazoo above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Kalamazoo, MI is 0.9% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Kalamazoo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $27,580 per year in Kalamazoo, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,190.