Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Lansing
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,290 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Lansing earn between $46,300 and $72,520.
- $41K10th
- $46K25th
- $59KMedian
- $73K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,350 | $5,029 | $29.01 |
| Median | $59,280 | $4,940 | $28.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,300 | $3,858 | $22.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,520 | $6,043 | $34.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Lansing vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Lansing earn 3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | $60,350 | $59,280 | $41,010 | $81,290 | 210 |
| 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 Lansing
On the average salary of $60,350, a single filer in Lansing takes home about $47,807 a year, or $3,984 a month and $1,839 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 Lansing's local income tax (1%).
Is Lansing a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lansing area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.0), so the average $60,350 buys what about $63,532 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Lansing ($52,800). A typical home costs $250,377, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Michigan cities
Lansing ranks 8th 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
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lansing: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Lansing?
$29.02 an hour on average, and $28.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Lansing?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Lansing?
About $47,807 a year ($3,984 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,350. Includes Lansing's local income tax (1%).
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Lansing 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 Lansing-East Lansing, MI (29620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 Lansing's local income tax (1%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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