Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

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

Median annual salary $36,150 -1.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.38
10th percentile $28,660
90th percentile $43,920
Employed locally 1,050
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Kalamazoo, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,660
    25th
    $30,510
    50th (median)
    $36,150
    75th
    $37,610
    90th
    $43,920

    Kalamazoo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 49% 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
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $37,420
    Ann Arbor, MI $37,410

    Related occupations in Kalamazoo, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,840
    Waiters and Waitresses$35,930
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,270
    Bartenders$43,150
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,140
    Food Preparation Workers$30,530

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Kalamazoo, MI is $17.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.19 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kalamazoo, MI is 1.8% below 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 Kalamazoo?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,660 per year in Kalamazoo, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,510.