Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Detroit, MI
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $37,360 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,862 take-home, or $2,572 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,303
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,316
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- Michigan income tax$1,337
- Take-home pay$30,862
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $897 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,965 ($2,497 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 →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,970 | $14.89 | $25,999 | $2,167 |
| 25th percentile | $33,360 | $16.04 | $27,818 | $2,318 |
| Median (50th) | $37,360 | $17.96 | $30,862 | $2,572 |
| 75th percentile | $40,080 | $19.27 | $32,932 | $2,744 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,730 | $21.50 | $36,470 | $3,039 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,360 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria's $30,862 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,770 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #30 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 30 | Detroit, MI | $37,360 | $30,862 | $30,770 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Detroit, MI?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $37,360 a year, or about $17.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,360 and $40,080.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $37,360 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $30,862 a year ($2,572 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,337 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,770 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #30 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 44% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,870
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,570
- Waiter and Waitress — $37,490
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,410
- 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