How much does a food preparation worker make in Detroit?
$33,060a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area. That is $15.89 an hour or $2,755 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.89
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 190 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 8,250
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,560Median: $33,060Highest 10%: $39,870
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,560 | $13.25 | |
| 25th | $29,710 | $14.28 | |
| Median | $33,060 | $15.89 | |
| 75th | $36,690 | $17.64 | |
| 90th | $39,870 | $19.17 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,100 |
| Traverse City, MI | $31,980 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $31,920 |
| Flint, MI | $31,510 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $31,410 |
| Jackson, MI | $31,120 |
| Muskegon, MI | $30,100 |
| Monroe, MI | $30,060 |
| South Bend, IN | $29,970 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $29,650 |
| Niles, MI | $29,640 |
| Lansing, MI | $29,340 |
| Saginaw, MI | $28,960 |
| Bay City, MI | $28,790 |
| Midland, MI | $27,290 |
Related jobs in Detroit
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,870 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,570 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $37,490 |
| Cook | $37,410 |
| Cook | $37,360 |
| Bartender | $36,780 |
| Cook | $35,630 |
| Food Server | $35,170 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,100 |
| Dishwasher | $34,350 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Detroit?
The median hourly pay in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $15.89 ($33,060 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Detroit than the national average?
No: $33,060 against $35,320 nationally, 6% less.
How does Detroit compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $31,180, so Detroit pays 6% more.
Where does Detroit rank for food preparation worker pay?
190 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,560 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,870 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.