Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,000 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Detroit earn between $50,890 and $74,870.
- $44K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $75K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,580 | $5,382 | $31.05 |
| Median | $60,870 | $5,072 | $29.26 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,890 | $4,241 | $24.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,870 | $6,239 | $36.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Detroit earn 3% more than the Michigan average ($62,460) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $64,580 | $60,870 | $44,410 | $82,000 | 2,660 |
| Michigan | $62,460 | $60,070 | $42,170 | $82,000 | 5,360 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $64,580, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $50,161 a year, or $4,180 a month and $1,929 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $64,580 buys what about $64,388 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 2nd of 14 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($64,590).
- Ann Arbor$64,590
- Detroit$64,580
- Kalamazoo$64,040
- Grand Rapids$63,450
- Midland$63,400
- Niles$62,300
- Jackson$60,520
- Lansing$60,350
- Battle Creek$60,130
- Traverse City$59,220
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Detroit: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Detroit?
$31.05 an hour on average, and $29.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Detroit?
About $50,161 a year ($4,180 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,580. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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