Food Preparation Workers pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $41,130 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Grand Rapids earn between $27,620 and $36,540.
- $27K10th
- $28K25th
- $32KMedian
- $37K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,310 | $2,776 | $16.01 |
| Median | $31,920 | $2,660 | $15.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,620 | $2,302 | $13.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,540 | $3,045 | $17.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $33,310, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $27,363 a year, or $2,280 a month and $1,052 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 Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $33,310 buys what about $34,863 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 3rd of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($34,160).
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
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Grand Rapids: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Grand Rapids?
$16.02 an hour on average, and $15.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $27,363 a year ($2,280 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,310. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do food preparation workers earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,748).
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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
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