SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Southern Michigan
Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area · 7 metro areas compared
At $33,210, median pay for Cooks, Short Order in Southern Michigan, MI tracks the national median of $35,880 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $33,210, median pay for Cooks, Short Order in Southern Michigan, MI tracks the national median of $35,880 closely. Pay ranges from under $27,710 at the tenth percentile to more than $43,930 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,320 to $35,830.
Employment stands at 90, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Traverse City records the highest median at $36,090. Of the 361 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 333rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,710 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $30,320 | −15.5% |
| Median (50th) | $33,210 | −7.4% |
| 75th | $35,830 | −0.1% |
| 90th | $43,930 | +22.4% |
| Mean | $33,840 | −5.7% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traverse City | $36,090 | 50 | |
| 2 | Detroit | $35,630 | 1,300 | |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | $34,200 | 170 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $33,280 | 100 | |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | $32,020 | 110 | |
| 6 | Muskegon | $31,940 | 50 | |
| 7 | Saginaw | $31,700 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $33,210 goes as far as $34,522 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,522US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,210 a year, 7.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,710 to $43,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Traverse City, at $36,090.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Southern Michigan, MI?
The median annual wage is $33,210, or $15.97 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 $35,880, so pay in Southern Michigan, MI is 7.4% 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 Southern Michigan, MI earns more than $43,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,710 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 Traverse City, at $36,090 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Southern Michigan, 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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