SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Saginaw
Saginaw, MI · 10 metro areas compared
In Saginaw, MI the median wage is $51,430.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Saginaw, MI the median wage is $51,430. That is 17.7% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $38,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,760 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $41,670 to $70,670.
Employment stands at 80, or 1.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Kalamazoo records the highest median at $63,050. Of the 282 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 161st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,640 | −38.1% |
| 25th | $41,670 | −33.3% |
| Median (50th) | $51,430 | −17.7% |
| 75th | $70,670 | +13.1% |
| 90th | $75,760 | +21.3% |
| Mean | $55,770 | −10.7% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalamazoo | $63,050 | 150 | |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | $61,890 | 610 | |
| 3 | Ann Arbor | $60,910 | 260 | |
| 4 | Detroit | $60,870 | 2,660 | |
| 5 | Midland | $59,700 | 30 | |
| 6 | Battle Creek | $59,540 | 80 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $59,510 | 50 | |
| 8 | Lansing | $59,280 | 210 | |
| 9 | Niles | $58,570 | 120 | |
| 10 | Flint | $57,800 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Saginaw run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $51,430 goes as far as $53,462 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,430as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,462US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,430 a year, 17.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,640 to $75,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kalamazoo, at $63,050.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Saginaw, MI?
The median annual wage is $51,430, or $24.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Saginaw, MI is 17.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Saginaw, MI earns more than $75,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,640 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kalamazoo, at $63,050 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Saginaw, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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