Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lansing, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lansing-East Lansing, MI

Median annual salary $36,450 -1% vs national
Median hourly $17.52
10th percentile $28,180
90th percentile $44,180
Employed locally 1,630
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Lansing, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,180
    25th
    $30,650
    50th (median)
    $36,450
    75th
    $37,750
    90th
    $44,180

    Lansing economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,886 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 Lansing, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,580
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,890
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,810
    Bartenders $45,330
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,770
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $30,630

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lansing, MI is $17.52, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.72 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lansing, MI is 1% 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 Lansing?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,180 per year in Lansing, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,650.