Food Preparation Worker Salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Food Preparation Workers in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area earn a median $34,100 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,381 take-home, or $2,365 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Ann Arbor, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,912
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,114
- Medicare (1.45%)$494
- Michigan income tax$1,199
- Take-home pay$28,381
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Ann Arbor, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,440 | $13.19 | $23,291 | $1,941 |
| 25th percentile | $27,990 | $13.46 | $23,721 | $1,977 |
| Median (50th) | $34,100 | $16.39 | $28,381 | $2,365 |
| 75th percentile | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,611 | $2,551 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,760 | $20.56 | $34,971 | $2,914 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,100 buys in Ann Arbor, MI
Prices in Ann Arbor, MI are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,381 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,133 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Ann Arbor, MI than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Ann Arbor, MI ranks #174 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 174 | Ann Arbor, MI | $34,100 | $28,381 | $28,133 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Flint, MI — $31,510
- Grand Rapids, MI — $31,920
- Kalamazoo, MI — $31,410
- Detroit, MI — $33,060
- Lansing, MI — $29,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Ann Arbor, MI?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Ann Arbor, MI metro area is $34,100 a year, or about $16.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,990 and $37,030.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Ann Arbor, MI?
On the median $34,100 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $28,381 a year ($2,365 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,199 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Ann Arbor, MI a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,133 would in a typical U.S. city. Ann Arbor, MI ranks #174 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Ann Arbor, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ann Arbor, MI is $1,387 a month ($1,656 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Ann Arbor, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,340
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $40,230
- Bartender — $38,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,290
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,830
- Dishwasher — $34,440
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,570