SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Kalamazoo, MI is $34,880 per year, close to the national median of $35,360 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Kalamazoo, MI is $34,880 per year, close to the national median of $35,360 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $30,040 and $36,110. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,020 and the ninetieth at $46,120.
The area has 280 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.3 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Saginaw records the highest median at $37,030. Of the 346 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 318th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,020 | −20.8% |
| 25th | $30,040 | −15.0% |
| Median (50th) | $34,880 | −1.4% |
| 75th | $36,110 | +2.1% |
| 90th | $46,120 | +30.4% |
| Mean | $35,240 | −0.3% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saginaw | $37,030 | 290 | |
| 2 | Battle Creek | $36,710 | 270 | |
| 3 | Muskegon | $36,250 | 180 | |
| 4 | Detroit | $35,170 | 3,210 | |
| 5 | Traverse City | $35,070 | 140 | |
| 6 | Lansing | $34,700 | 430 | |
| 7 | Ann Arbor | $34,170 | 360 | |
| 8 | Grand Rapids | $32,770 | 1,160 | |
| 9 | Bay City | $32,370 | 70 | |
| 10 | Niles | $31,840 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kalamazoo run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $34,880 goes as far as $36,258 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,258US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,880 a year, 1.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,020 to $46,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Saginaw, at $37,030.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Kalamazoo, MI?
The median annual wage is $34,880, or $16.77 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 $35,360, so pay in Kalamazoo, MI is 1.4% 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 Kalamazoo, MI earns more than $46,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,020 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 Saginaw, at $37,030 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 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.
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