Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,730 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Detroit earn between $33,360 and $40,080.
- $31K10th
- $33K25th
- $37KMedian
- $40K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,640 | $3,137 | $18.10 |
| Median | $37,360 | $3,113 | $17.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,360 | $2,780 | $16.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,080 | $3,340 | $19.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($37,370) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $37,640 | $37,360 | $30,970 | $44,730 | 4,910 |
| Michigan | $37,370 | $36,870 | $29,800 | $45,540 | 13,500 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $37,640, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $30,306 a year, or $2,526 a month and $1,166 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $37,640 buys what about $37,528 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 6th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($41,680).
- Ann Arbor$41,680
- Traverse City$39,950
- Battle Creek$39,040
- Grand Rapids$38,540
- Jackson$38,380
- Detroit$37,640
- Lansing$36,920
- Niles$36,350
- Midland$36,240
- Kalamazoo$36,150
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Detroit: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Detroit?
$18.10 an hour on average, and $17.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Detroit?
About $30,306 a year ($2,526 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,640. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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