SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · 10 metro areas compared
At $37,360, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Grand Rapids, MI tracks the national median of $37,390 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $37,360, median pay for Cooks, Restaurant in Grand Rapids, MI tracks the national median of $37,390 closely. Pay ranges from under $30,110 at the tenth percentile to more than $45,290 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,790 to $39,340.
Employment stands at 4,850, or 8.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Ann Arbor records the highest median at $38,290. Of the 572 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 511th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,110 | −19.5% |
| 25th | $35,790 | −4.3% |
| Median (50th) | $37,360 | −0.1% |
| 75th | $39,340 | +5.2% |
| 90th | $45,290 | +21.1% |
| Mean | $37,920 | +1.4% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Arbor | $38,290 | 1,600 | |
| 2 | Detroit | $37,410 | 16,490 | |
| 3 | Traverse City | $37,270 | 1,060 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $37,100 | 1,850 | |
| 5 | Battle Creek | $37,000 | 520 | |
| 6 | Kalamazoo | $36,760 | 1,140 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $36,680 | 520 | |
| 8 | Niles | $36,610 | 840 | |
| 9 | Midland | $36,540 | 260 | |
| 10 | Flint | $36,350 | 1,330 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Grand Rapids run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $37,360 goes as far as $38,836 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,836US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,360 a year, 0.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,110 to $45,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,850 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ann Arbor, at $38,290.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median annual wage is $37,360, or $17.96 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 $37,390, so pay in Grand Rapids, MI is 0.1% 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 Grand Rapids, MI earns more than $45,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,110 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 Ann Arbor, at $38,290 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,850 jobs in this occupation in Grand Rapids, 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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