Food Preparation Workers Salary in Michigan
Food Preparation Workers in Michigan have a median of $31,180 a year, below the national $35,320 (−12%); the state ranks 36th of 51 states by median. That is 37% less than the median across all occupations in Michigan ($49,270). Among neighbouring states, Ohio and Wisconsin pay more (up to $34,530 in Ohio) and Indiana pays less (down to $29,700 in Indiana). Michigan employs 17,380 food preparation workers, 3.95 per 1,000 jobs, the 17th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.69 means it is less common in Michigan than nationally.
Michigan vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $12.76 | $13.31 | $14.99 | $17.27 | $18.57 | $15.73 | 17,380 | 3.95 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $26,540 | $27,690 | $31,180 | $35,910 | $38,620 | $32,720 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 36th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 17th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.69
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.95
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Michigan's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Michigan
16 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Michigan publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $16.39 | $34,100 | $27,440 | $42,760 | 590 | 2.68 | 0.47 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $15.90 | $33,060 | $27,560 | $39,870 | 8,250 | 4.33 | 0.75 |
| Traverse City, MI | $15.37 | $31,980 | $26,570 | $42,860 | 400 | 5.86 | 1.02 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $15.35 | $31,920 | $26,590 | $41,130 | 1,970 | 3.29 | 0.57 |
| Flint, MI | $15.15 | $31,510 | $25,960 | $37,020 | 530 | 3.93 | 0.68 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $15.10 | $31,410 | $26,400 | $40,980 | 490 | 4.06 | 0.71 |
| Jackson, MI | $14.96 | $31,120 | $26,000 | $38,320 | 170 | 3.01 | 0.52 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $14.47 | $30,100 | $25,960 | $37,140 | 170 | 2.69 | 0.47 |
| Monroe, MI | $14.45 | $30,060 | $25,960 | $38,390 | 180 | 4.32 | 0.75 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $14.41 | $29,970 | $24,360 | $39,270 | 760 | 5.81 | 1.01 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $14.26 | $29,650 | $26,080 | $36,280 | 330 | 6.05 | 1.05 |
| Niles, MI | $14.25 | $29,640 | $25,960 | $36,770 | 340 | 5.64 | 0.98 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $14.11 | $29,340 | $26,020 | $37,980 | 740 | 3.39 | 0.59 |
| Saginaw, MI | $13.92 | $28,960 | $25,960 | $35,860 | 320 | 4.04 | 0.70 |
| Bay City, MI | $13.84 | $28,790 | $25,960 | $35,950 | 150 | 4.57 | 0.80 |
| Midland, MI | $13.12 | $27,290 | $25,960 | $36,900 | 140 | 3.82 | 0.66 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $14.36 | $29,860 | $25,960 | $36,350 | 510 | 4.52 | 0.79 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $13.67 | $28,440 | $25,960 | $35,950 | 540 | 3.51 | 0.61 |
| Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $13.66 | $28,400 | $25,960 | $35,680 | 530 | 4.50 | 0.78 |
| Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $13.32 | $27,700 | $25,960 | $35,380 | 490 | 3.62 | 0.63 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Michigan wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Michigan estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.