Chef and Head Cook Salary in Detroit, MI
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $60,870 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,753 take-home, or $4,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,124
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,774
- Medicare (1.45%)$883
- Michigan income tax$2,336
- Take-home pay$48,753
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,461 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $47,292 ($3,941 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,410 | $21.35 | $36,227 | $3,019 |
| 25th percentile | $50,890 | $24.47 | $41,158 | $3,430 |
| Median (50th) | $60,870 | $29.26 | $48,753 | $4,063 |
| 75th percentile | $74,870 | $36.00 | $58,570 | $4,881 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,000 | $39.42 | $63,283 | $5,274 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,870 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $48,753 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,608 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chef and Head Cook jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #10 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,900 | $58,100 | $53,360 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $52,302 | $52,190 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $72,470 | $56,409 | $52,102 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $64,100 | $53,684 | $52,075 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,680 | $52,938 | $51,619 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $61,390 | $51,507 | $50,787 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $60,870 | $48,753 | $48,608 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: chefs and head cooks
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Detroit, MI?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $60,870 a year, or about $29.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,890 and $74,870.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $60,870 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $48,753 a year ($4,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,336 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,608 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #10 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,570
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,490
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,360
- Bartender — $36,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,170
- Dishwasher — $34,350
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,060
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,760
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,810
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,590
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,290