Food Preparation Workers · Michigan

Food Preparation Workers Salary in Michigan

Food Preparation Workers in Michigan earn a median annual wage of $31,180 —11.7% below the national median of $35,320. That ranks MI #36 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$31,180
Median hourly
$14.99
Entry level (P10)
$26,540
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$38,620
90th percentile
Employment
17,380
3.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-11.7%
U.S. $35,320

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$26,540
$27,690
$31,180
$35,910
$26,540$31,180$38,620
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $31,180.

Employment is only 0.69× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Michigan.

Highest-paying states for food preparation workers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Michigan is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$40,910$19.6719,5100.96
2District of Columbia$39,600$19.043,9700.98
3California$39,350$18.92112,7501.08
4Colorado$38,960$18.7312,0800.73
5Massachusetts$38,900$18.7013,6200.65
6Hawaii$38,160$18.355,9501.65
7Oregon$37,450$18.0011,8601.05
8North Dakota$36,800$17.699800.40
9New Hampshire$36,780$17.683,4200.87
10Arizona$36,750$17.6716,5900.89

Related occupations in Michigan

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Michigan.

OccupationMichigan medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,930$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$37,760$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$36,980$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,940$44,080
Bartenders$36,780$34,340
Cooks, Fast Food$29,460$30,890

Frequently asked questions

How much do food preparation workers make in Michigan?

The median annual wage for food preparation workers in Michigan is $31,180, or $14.99 per hour. That is 11.7% below the national median of $35,320.

What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Michigan?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $26,540 per year ($12.76/hour). The 25th percentile is $27,690.

How many people work as food preparation workers in Michigan?

About 17,380 people work in this occupation in Michigan, or 3.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Michigan a good state for food preparation workers?

Michigan ranks #36 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.69x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Michigan.

Which state pays food preparation workers the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $40,910 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($39,600) and California ($39,350).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes