Cooks, Restaurant pay in Kalamazoo-Portage

In Kalamazoo-Portage (MI), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.67 an hour ($36,760 a year). About 1,140 people work in this job there.

$17.67Median hourly pay
$33,220–$39,700Middle half of workers, yearly
1,140People in this job in Kalamazoo-Portage (MI)

That is 2% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is about the same as the Michigan median ($36,980).

Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Kalamazoo-Portage (MI)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$14.21$29,550
25% of workers$15.97$33,220
Half of workers (median)$17.67$36,760
75% of workers$19.09$39,700
90% of workers$22.19$46,150

Cooks, Restaurant pay in Michigan metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Ann Arbor$38,2901,600
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn$37,41016,490
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood$37,3604,850
Traverse City$37,2701,060
Lansing-East Lansing$37,1001,850
Battle Creek$37,000520
Kalamazoo-Portage (this page)$36,7601,140
Jackson$36,680520
Niles$36,610840
Midland$36,540260
Flint$36,3501,330
Monroe$36,200440
Saginaw$36,000780
Muskegon-Norton Shores$35,810600
Bay City$35,420330

Michigan unemployment rate: 5% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant

  • Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
  • Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)

Other job titles for this job

CookFRY CookGrill CookLine CookSpecialty CookPrep CookBack Line CookBanquet CookBreakfast CookForeign Food Specialty CookHotel CookLarder Cook

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.