Food Preparation Workers Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

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

Median annual salary $30,530 -10.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.68
10th percentile $24,530
90th percentile $37,700
Employed locally 410
National median $34,220

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Food Preparation Workers
in
Kalamazoo, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,530
    25th
    $26,380
    50th (median)
    $30,530
    75th
    $35,960
    90th
    $37,700

    Kalamazoo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation Workers salary vs area income 43% Median Food Preparation Workers salary is 57% 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 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
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,140

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Preparation Workers make per hour in Kalamazoo?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation Workers in Kalamazoo, MI is $14.68, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.70 or more per hour.

    Is Kalamazoo above or below average for Food Preparation Workers salaries?

    The median Food Preparation Workers salary in Kalamazoo, MI is 10.8% 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 Kalamazoo?

    Entry-level Food Preparation Workers (10th percentile) earn around $24,530 per year in Kalamazoo, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,380.