How much does a cook make in Kalamazoo?
$36,510a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area. That is $17.55 an hour or $3,043 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.55
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 203 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,470Median: $36,510Highest 10%: $44,170
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,470 | $13.69 | |
| 25th | $31,110 | $14.96 | |
| Median | $36,510 | $17.55 | |
| 75th | $37,950 | $18.25 | |
| 90th | $44,170 | $21.24 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Ann Arbor, MI | $40,250 |
| Traverse City, MI | $38,780 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $38,580 |
| Jackson, MI | $38,360 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $37,800 |
| Detroit, MI | $37,360 |
| South Bend, IN | $37,010 |
| Midland, MI | $36,870 |
| Niles, MI | $36,180 |
| Lansing, MI | $35,970 |
| Monroe, MI | $35,800 |
| Saginaw, MI | $35,060 |
| Muskegon, MI | $34,980 |
| Bay City, MI | $34,950 |
| Flint, MI | $33,570 |
Related jobs in Kalamazoo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $63,050 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,760 |
| Bartender | $37,660 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,500 |
| Cook | $36,760 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Kalamazoo?
The median hourly pay in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $17.55 ($36,510 a year).
Do cooks make more in Kalamazoo than the national average?
No: $36,510 against $37,450 nationally, 3% less.
How does Kalamazoo compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $36,870, so Kalamazoo pays 1% less.
Where does Kalamazoo rank for cook pay?
203 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Kalamazoo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,470 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,170 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.