How much does a chef and head cook make in Kalamazoo?
$63,050a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area. That is $30.31 an hour or $5,254 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.31
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 94 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 150
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $43,700Median: $63,050Highest 10%: $88,160
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,700 | $21.01 | |
| 25th | $48,600 | $23.37 | |
| Median | $63,050 | $30.31 | |
| 75th | $73,770 | $35.47 | |
| 90th | $88,160 | $42.38 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Grand Rapids, MI | $61,890 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $60,910 |
| Detroit, MI | $60,870 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $59,540 |
| Jackson, MI | $59,510 |
| Lansing, MI | $59,280 |
| Niles, MI | $58,570 |
| Flint, MI | $57,800 |
| South Bend, IN | $57,180 |
| Traverse City, MI | $57,000 |
| Muskegon, MI | $56,580 |
| Saginaw, MI | $51,430 |
Related jobs in Kalamazoo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,760 |
| Bartender | $37,660 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,500 |
| Cook | $36,760 |
| Cook | $36,510 |
| Food Server | $34,880 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,410 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,190 |
| Cook | $29,300 |
| Dishwasher | $29,250 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Kalamazoo?
The median hourly pay in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $30.31 ($63,050 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Kalamazoo than the national average?
Yes: $63,050 against $62,470 nationally, 1% more.
How does Kalamazoo compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $60,070, so Kalamazoo pays 5% more.
Where does Kalamazoo rank for chef and head cook pay?
94 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Kalamazoo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $43,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $88,160 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.