SOC 35-2014 · Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro

Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Muskegon, MI

The average salary for cooks, restaurant in Muskegon, Michigan is $35,870 a year ($17.24 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $35,810: half of the 600 people in this job in the Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).

$35,870average per year

$17.24 / hourMedian $35,810Take-home ≈ $29,423

  • $29K10th
  • $31K25th
  • $36KMedian
  • $37K75th
  • $45K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

600people in this job
-7%vs U.S. average
#13 of 15Michigan metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Muskegon

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,910 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Muskegon earn between $30,640 and $37,170.

  • $29K10th
  • $31K25th
  • $36KMedian
  • $37K75th
  • $45K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$35,870$2,989$17.25
Median$35,810$2,984$17.22
Entry level (25th percentile)$30,640$2,553$14.73
Experienced (75th percentile)$37,170$3,098$17.87

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Cooks, Restaurant pay in Muskegon vs. Michigan and the U.S.

Cooks, restaurant in Muskegon earn 5% less than the Michigan average ($37,570) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $37,390.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Muskegon$35,870$35,810$28,850$44,910600
Michigan$37,570$36,980$29,570$46,03039,100
United States$38,730$37,390$28,700$47,9001,409,890

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Muskegon

On the average salary of $35,870, a single filer in Muskegon takes home about $29,423 a year, or $2,452 a month and $1,132 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Muskegon's local income tax (1%).

Michigan paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Muskegon a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Muskegon area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $35,870 buys what about $38,770 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Muskegon ($46,060). A typical home costs $255,271, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $35,870 is worth in another city

Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Michigan cities

Muskegon ranks 13th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($39,380).

All Cooks, Restaurant salaries in Michigan

Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).

Cooks, Restaurant salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Cooks, Restaurant in Muskegon, MI.

Cooks, Restaurant salary in Muskegon: questions

How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Muskegon?

$17.24 an hour on average, and $17.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Muskegon?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,640, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Muskegon?

About $29,423 a year ($2,452 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,870. Includes Muskegon's local income tax (1%).

Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Muskegon than elsewhere?

The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).

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 35-2014; area Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI (34740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
  • 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 Muskegon's local income tax (1%).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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