Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Detroit, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Median annual salary $37,420 +1.6% vs national
Median hourly $17.99
10th percentile $29,020
90th percentile $46,920
Employed locally 16,050
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Detroit, MI stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Restaurant
in
Detroit, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,020
    25th
    $31,750
    50th (median)
    $37,420
    75th
    $41,600
    90th
    $46,920

    Detroit economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,123 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $39,710
    Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $38,570
    Minnesota $38,220
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $37,540
    Ann Arbor, MI $37,410
    Battle Creek, MI $37,390

    Related occupations in Detroit, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,490
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,440
    Bartenders $38,730
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $29,950
    Food Preparation Workers $35,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Detroit?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Detroit, MI is $17.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.58 or more per hour.

    Is Detroit above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Detroit, MI is 1.6% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Detroit?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,020 per year in Detroit, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,750.