Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

In the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $36,500 ($17.55/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,100/year and the 90th was $45,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Michigan tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $30,207 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 94.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$36,500$17.55 per hour · $3,042 monthly
10th Percentile$29,100$13.99/hr base
25th Percentile$34,300$16.49/hr base
75th Percentile$42,200$20.29/hr base
90th Percentile$45,400$21.83/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$36,500
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,500
Net 83%
Fed 6%
MI 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,207After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,517Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,162Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,200 / yr
Michigan state income tax$1,301 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,792 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MI)
10th Percentile$13.99/hr$2,425$29,100$24,576
25th Percentile$16.49/hr$2,858$34,300$28,533
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.55/hr$3,042$36,500$30,207
75th Percentile$20.29/hr$3,517$42,200$34,545
90th Percentile$21.83/hr$3,783$45,400$36,980

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$36,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$72,532Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index94.85.2% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio50.3%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Michigan:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI is $36,500, which equates to approximately $3,042 per month or $17.55 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI is $17.55 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.99/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.83/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI span from $29,100 at the 10th percentile to $34,300 at the 25th, $42,200 at the 75th, and $45,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

On a median gross salary of $36,500, an estimated $30,207 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,162 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Michigan in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,293 (an effective rate of 17.2%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

On the median annual salary of $36,500, gross monthly income is $3,042. After federal, FICA, and Michigan state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,517 per month (or $1,162 every two weeks).

Is $36,500 a good salary in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?

At $36,500, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 50.3% of the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI median household income ($72,532). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 94.8, making regional consumer goods and services 5.2% cheaper than the U.S. average.