Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Michigan
$37,370avg. a year
$17.97 an hour · 13,500 employed
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Michigan earn an average of $37,370 a year. That is $1,440 (4%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810. The best-paying metro area is Ann Arbor, MI at $41,680.
$36,870Median pay
$17.97Average hourly
+22%Avg. pay since 2020
#30Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Michigan metro areas
Average pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria by metro area. Swipe to see all 16.
1610 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$41,680
$20.04 an hour
2270 jobs
Traverse City, MI
$39,950
$19.21 an hour
3260 jobs
Battle Creek, MI
$39,040
$18.77 an hour
41,790 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$38,540
$18.53 an hour
5270 jobs
Jackson, MI
$38,380
$18.45 an hour
64,910 jobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$37,640
$18.10 an hour
7440 jobs
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
$37,520
$18.04 an hour
8710 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$36,920
$17.75 an hour
9270 jobs
Niles, MI
$36,350
$17.48 an hour
10140 jobs
Midland, MI
$36,240
$17.42 an hour
11410 jobs
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
$36,150
$17.38 an hour
12210 jobs
Saginaw, MI
$36,100
$17.36 an hour
13220 jobs
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
$35,950
$17.28 an hour
14160 jobs
Monroe, MI
$35,450
$17.05 an hour
15140 jobs
Bay City, MI
$34,800
$16.73 an hour
16560 jobs
Flint, MI
$34,340
$16.51 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.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Michigan, charted
Pay over time
Michigan, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Michigan cooks, institution and cafeteria work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Michigan highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $35k$35k–$39k$39k–$44k$44k+Michigan
Michigan vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Michigan | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Wisconsin | $39,860 | $19.16 |
| Ohio | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Indiana | $35,910 | $17.26 |
Related jobs in Michigan
Average pay, Michigan, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Michigan?
The average is $37,370 a year, and the median is $36,870. That is $1,440 (4%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810.
What is the hourly wage in Michigan?
$17.97 an hour on average; the median is $17.72.
Where in Michigan do they earn the most?
Ann Arbor, MI ($41,680), followed by Traverse City, MI ($39,950). The lowest average among 16 metro areas with data is Flint, MI ($34,340).
How does Michigan rank?
Michigan ranks #30 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 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria 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.