Cooks, Fast Food salary in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Cooks, Fast Food in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median of $29,810 a year ($14.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,990 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 1% higher than the Michigan statewide median of $29,460. There are 3.1 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $31,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,090 | $13.50 |
| 25th percentile | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Median | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| 75th percentile | $30,920 | $14.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,990 | $18.27 |
| Average (mean) | $31,780 | $15.28 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,484.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,242.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,146.54 |
| Weekly | $573.27 |
| Hourly | $14.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,810 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $29,690 | 420 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,540 | 560 |
| Jackson, MI | $29,460 | 330 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $29,300 | 440 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $28,980 | 1,740 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $28,820 | 570 |
| Traverse City, MI | $28,740 | 300 |
| Flint, MI | $28,510 | 560 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $28,400 | 730 |
| Niles, MI | $28,240 | 320 |
| Monroe, MI | $27,120 | 240 |
| Midland, MI | $27,090 | 150 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,410 | $17.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,060 | $15.90 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Bartender | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,290 | $14.08 |
| Dishwasher | $34,350 | $16.51 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,870 | $29.27 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,100 | $16.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $29,810 a year, or $14.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn at least $37,990 a year. The top 25% earn $30,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,090 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $29,260 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
About 5,930 cooks, fast food are employed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.