Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Jackson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,860 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Jackson earn between $47,930 and $73,020.
- $42K10th
- $48K25th
- $60KMedian
- $73K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,520 | $5,043 | $29.10 |
| Median | $59,510 | $4,959 | $28.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,930 | $3,994 | $23.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,020 | $6,085 | $35.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Jackson
On the average salary of $60,520, a single filer in Jackson takes home about $47,935 a year, or $3,995 a month and $1,844 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Jackson's local income tax (1%).
Is Jackson a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jackson area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $60,520 buys what about $65,941 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Jackson ($47,760). A typical home costs $227,287, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Michigan cities
Jackson ranks 7th 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Jackson: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Jackson?
$29.10 an hour on average, and $28.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Jackson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Jackson?
About $47,935 a year ($3,995 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,520. Includes Jackson's local income tax (1%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Jackson than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($67,002).
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 Jackson, MI (27100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 Jackson's local income tax (1%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.