Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Battle Creek
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,060 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Battle Creek earn between $49,520 and $59,760.
- $49K10th
- $50K25th
- $60KMedian
- $60K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,130 | $5,011 | $28.91 |
| Median | $59,540 | $4,962 | $28.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,520 | $4,127 | $23.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,760 | $4,980 | $28.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Battle Creek vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Battle Creek earn 4% less than the Michigan average ($62,460) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek | $60,130 | $59,540 | $49,330 | $78,060 | 80 |
| Michigan | $62,460 | $60,070 | $42,170 | $82,000 | 5,360 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Battle Creek
On the average salary of $60,130, a single filer in Battle Creek takes home about $47,642 a year, or $3,970 a month and $1,832 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Battle Creek's local income tax (1%).
Is Battle Creek a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Battle Creek area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.5), so the average $60,130 buys what about $66,412 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Battle Creek ($48,690). A typical home costs $189,677, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Michigan cities
Battle Creek ranks 9th of 14 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($64,590).
- Ann Arbor$64,590
- Detroit$64,580
- Kalamazoo$64,040
- Grand Rapids$63,450
- Midland$63,400
- Niles$62,300
- Jackson$60,520
- Lansing$60,350
- Battle Creek$60,130
- Traverse City$59,220
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Battle Creek: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Battle Creek?
$28.91 an hour on average, and $28.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Battle Creek?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Battle Creek?
About $47,642 a year ($3,970 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,130. Includes Battle Creek's local income tax (1%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Battle Creek than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Battle Creek, MI (12980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Battle Creek's local income tax (1%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.