Food Preparation Workers pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,870 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Detroit earn between $29,710 and $36,690.
- $28K10th
- $30K25th
- $33KMedian
- $37K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,680 | $2,807 | $16.19 |
| Median | $33,060 | $2,755 | $15.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,710 | $2,476 | $14.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,690 | $3,058 | $17.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($32,720) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $33,680 | $33,060 | $27,560 | $39,870 | 8,250 |
| Michigan | $32,720 | $31,180 | $26,540 | $38,620 | 17,380 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $33,680, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $27,388 a year, or $2,282 a month and $1,053 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 food preparation workers? 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 $33,680 buys what about $33,580 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 2nd of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($34,160).
- Ann Arbor$34,160
- Detroit$33,680
- Grand Rapids$33,310
- Traverse City$33,290
- Kalamazoo$32,680
- Jackson$32,280
- Flint$32,210
- Lansing$31,810
- Muskegon$31,480
- Niles$31,480
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Detroit: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Detroit?
$16.19 an hour on average, and $15.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Detroit?
About $27,388 a year ($2,282 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,680. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.