Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,690 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Grand Rapids earn between $35,650 and $41,300.
- $30K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $41K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,540 | $3,212 | $18.53 |
| Median | $37,800 | $3,150 | $18.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,650 | $2,971 | $17.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,300 | $3,442 | $19.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Grand Rapids vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Grand Rapids earn 3% more than the Michigan average ($37,370) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $38,540 | $37,800 | $30,430 | $45,690 | 1,790 |
| 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 Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $38,540, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $31,264 a year, or $2,605 a month and $1,202 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 Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $38,540 buys what about $40,337 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 4th 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 Grand Rapids: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$18.53 an hour on average, and $18.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $31,264 a year ($2,605 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,540. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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