Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Michigan
$62,460avg. a year
$30.03 an hour · 5,360 employed
Chefs and Head Cooks in Michigan earn an average of $62,460 a year. That is $4,240 (6%) less than the U.S. average of $66,700. The best-paying metro area is Ann Arbor, MI at $64,590.
$60,070Median pay
$30.03Average hourly
+7%Avg. pay since 2020
#33Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Michigan metro areas
Average pay for chefs and head cooks by metro area. Swipe to see all 15.
1260 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$64,590
$31.05 an hour
22,660 jobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$64,580
$31.05 an hour
3150 jobs
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
$64,040
$30.79 an hour
4610 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$63,450
$30.50 an hour
530 jobs
Midland, MI
$63,400
$30.48 an hour
6120 jobs
Niles, MI
$62,300
$29.95 an hour
750 jobs
Jackson, MI
$60,520
$29.10 an hour
8210 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$60,350
$29.02 an hour
980 jobs
Battle Creek, MI
$60,130
$28.91 an hour
10130 jobs
Traverse City, MI
$59,220
$28.47 an hour
11110 jobs
Flint, MI
$58,240
$28.00 an hour
1270 jobs
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
$57,460
$27.63 an hour
1380 jobs
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
$57,090
$27.45 an hour
1480 jobs
Saginaw, MI
$55,770
$26.81 an hour
1540 jobs
Bay City, MI
$52,720
$25.35 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Michigan, charted
Pay over time
Michigan, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Michigan chefs and head cooks work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Michigan highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $60k$60k–$66k$66k–$70k$70k+Michigan
Michigan vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| Michigan | $62,460 | $30.03 |
| Wisconsin | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| Ohio | $61,220 | $29.44 |
| Indiana | $55,060 | $26.47 |
Related jobs in Michigan
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$42,050
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,260
- Waiters and Waitresses$44,910
- Cooks, Restaurant$37,570
- Food Preparation Workers$32,720
- Bartenders$44,470
Average pay, Michigan, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Michigan?
The average is $62,460 a year, and the median is $60,070. That is $4,240 (6%) less than the U.S. average of $66,700.
What is the hourly wage in Michigan?
$30.03 an hour on average; the median is $28.88.
Where in Michigan do they earn the most?
Ann Arbor, MI ($64,590), followed by Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($64,580). The lowest average among 15 metro areas with data is Bay City, MI ($52,720).
How does Michigan rank?
Michigan ranks #33 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-1011. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national chefs and head cooks page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.