Food Preparation Workers Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $34,000 -0.6% vs national
Median hourly $16.35
10th percentile $26,750
90th percentile $41,310
Employed locally 1,700
National median $34,220

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Food Preparation Workers
in
Grand Rapids, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,750
    25th
    $29,440
    50th (median)
    $34,000
    75th
    $36,890
    90th
    $41,310

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation Workers salary vs area income 42% Median Food Preparation Workers salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Preparation Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,120
    Napa, CA $43,260
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $42,830
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $41,980
    Boulder, CO $41,490
    Greeley, CO $41,340

    Nearby metros — Food Preparation Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minot, ND $36,340
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $35,660
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $35,490
    Ann Arbor, MI $35,400
    Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area $35,260
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $34,820

    Related occupations in Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,020
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,260
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,950
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,190
    Bartenders $46,470
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $27,810

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Preparation Workers make per hour in Grand Rapids?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation Workers in Grand Rapids, MI is $16.35, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.78 or more per hour.

    Is Grand Rapids above or below average for Food Preparation Workers salaries?

    The median Food Preparation Workers salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 0.6% below the national median of $34,220. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Preparation Workers in Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Food Preparation Workers (10th percentile) earn around $26,750 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,440.