Food Preparation Worker Salary in Lansing, MI
Food Preparation Workers in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area earn a median $29,340 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,758 take-home, or $2,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Lansing, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,341
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,819
- Medicare (1.45%)$425
- Michigan income tax$996
- Take-home pay$24,758
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Lansing, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,020 | $12.51 | $22,182 | $1,849 |
| 25th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 | $22,979 | $1,915 |
| Median (50th) | $29,340 | $14.11 | $24,758 | $2,063 |
| 75th percentile | $35,640 | $17.13 | $29,553 | $2,463 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,980 | $18.26 | $31,334 | $2,611 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,340 buys in Lansing, MI
Prices in Lansing, MI are 5.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $24,758 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,064 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 Lansing, MI than nationally (location quotient 0.59), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Lansing, MI ranks #233 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 |
| 233 | Lansing, MI | $29,340 | $24,758 | $26,064 |
*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
- Ann Arbor, MI — $34,100
- Grand Rapids, MI — $31,920
- Kalamazoo, MI — $31,410
- Detroit, MI — $33,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Lansing, MI?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area is $29,340 a year, or about $14.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,040 and $35,640.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Lansing, MI?
On the median $29,340 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $24,758 a year ($2,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $996 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Lansing, MI a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 5.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,064 would in a typical U.S. city. Lansing, MI ranks #233 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Lansing, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lansing, MI is $1,012 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lansing, MI
- Bartender — $40,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,050
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,970
- Dishwasher — $33,130
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,400
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,340