Cooks, Fast Food salary in Michigan
Cooks, Fast Food in Michigan earn a median of $29,460 a year ($14.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,240 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $30,890. Michigan ranks 32nd of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 3.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $30,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,960 | $12.48 |
| 25th percentile | $27,300 | $13.12 |
| Median | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| 75th percentile | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,240 | $17.91 |
| Average (mean) | $30,400 | $14.61 |
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 | $2,455 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,227.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,133.08 |
| Weekly | $566.54 |
| Hourly | $14.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,460 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 cities in Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $29,810 | 5,930 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.72 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, All Other | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $37,760 | $18.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Bartender | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,950 | $13.92 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,260 | $16.47 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,070 | $28.88 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
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 Michigan?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Michigan is $29,460 a year, or $14.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Michigan?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Michigan earn at least $37,240 a year. The top 25% earn $30,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,960 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $27,300 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Michigan?
About 14,340 cooks, fast food are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.