SalaryExplorer

SOC 35-3023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Fast Food and Counter WorkersKalamazoo

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · 10 metro areas compared

$28,790 /year
$13.84per hour
3,200jobs in area
7.7%vs US median

At $28,790, median pay for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kalamazoo, MI tracks the national median of $31,200 closely.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $31,20010TH$25,96025TH$27,820MEDIAN$28,79075TH$31,82090TH$35,290

Salary overview

At $28,790, median pay for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kalamazoo, MI tracks the national median of $31,200 closely. Pay ranges from under $25,960 at the tenth percentile to more than $35,290 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $27,820 to $31,820.

Employment stands at 3,200, or 26.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Ann Arbor records the highest median at $33,220. Of the 346 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 341st.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$25,960−16.8%
25th$27,820−10.8%
Median (50th)$28,790−7.7%
75th$31,820+2.0%
90th$35,290+13.1%
Mean$30,020−3.8%

Other metro areas in Michigan

Median annual wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Ann Arbor$33,2204,800
2Detroit$29,59042,430
3Muskegon$28,8502,740
4Lansing$28,6404,810
5Traverse City$28,5601,730
6Midland$28,4801,060
7Flint$28,3304,800
8Saginaw$28,2801,940
9Grand Rapids$28,24013,190
10Battle Creek$28,1001,500

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Kalamazoo run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $28,790 goes as far as $29,927 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.1% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$28,790as reported by BLS

Local price level

96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$29,927US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $28,790 a year, 7.7% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $25,960 to $35,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 3,200 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Ann Arbor, at $33,220.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Kalamazoo, MI?

The median annual wage is $28,790, or $13.84 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 $31,200, so pay in Kalamazoo, MI is 7.7% 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 Kalamazoo, MI earns more than $35,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $25,960 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 $33,220 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 3,200 jobs in this occupation in Kalamazoo, 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.

Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary in Kalamazoo, MI (2025): $28,790 Median | Salary Explorer