How much does a chef and head cook make in Traverse City?
$57,000a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Traverse City, MI metro area. That is $27.40 an hour or $4,750 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.40
- Vs. national median
- -9%
- Rank among cities
- 207 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,730Median: $57,000Highest 10%: $79,770
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,730 | $18.62 | |
| 25th | $45,910 | $22.07 | |
| Median | $57,000 | $27.40 | |
| 75th | $66,610 | $32.02 | |
| 90th | $79,770 | $38.35 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Kalamazoo, MI | $63,050 |
| 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 |
| Muskegon, MI | $56,580 |
| Saginaw, MI | $51,430 |
Related jobs in Traverse City
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,030 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $41,380 |
| Cook | $38,780 |
| Bartender | $37,300 |
| Cook | $37,270 |
| Cook | $36,090 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,650 |
| Food Server | $35,070 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,980 |
| Dishwasher | $31,130 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Traverse City?
The median hourly pay in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $27.40 ($57,000 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Traverse City than the national average?
No: $57,000 against $62,470 nationally, 9% less.
How does Traverse City compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $60,070, so Traverse City pays 5% less.
Where does Traverse City rank for chef and head cook pay?
207 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,730 or less a year; the top 10% make $79,770 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.