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Average salary by job family in Traverse City
| Management | $111,870 |
|---|---|
| Legal | $103,510 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $102,250 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $87,040 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $82,480 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $75,650 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $75,570 |
| Construction and Extraction | $59,770 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $59,110 |
| Community and Social Service | $58,250 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $58,090 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $56,770 |
| Protective Service | $55,360 |
| Production | $48,420 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $47,320 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $46,490 |
| Sales and Related | $46,050 |
| Healthcare Support | $42,530 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $42,240 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $40,340 |
| Personal Care and Service | $38,560 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $38,270 |
Highest-paying jobs in Traverse City
- Chief Executives$273,420
- Physicians, All Other$242,740
- Family Medicine Physicians$216,410
- Dentists, General$197,060
- Architectural and Engineering Managers$156,950
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$151,550
- Marketing Managers$145,340
- Lawyers$141,920
- Pharmacists$141,230
- Financial Managers$138,690
Most common jobs in Traverse City and what they pay
| Job | Jobs | Average salary | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 2,390 | $36,910 | $34,540 |
| Registered Nurses | 2,020 | $90,400 | $83,690 |
| Cashiers | 1,850 | $32,060 | $30,920 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,730 | $30,580 | $28,560 |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,650 | $45,170 | $44,470 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,610 | $45,550 | $41,380 |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,580 | $106,470 | $84,300 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,260 | $37,190 | $35,460 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 1,060 | $38,160 | $37,270 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,050 | $38,070 | $36,480 |
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Cost of living in Traverse City
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average, with a BEA price parity of 93.4 for 2024. The average local salary of $58,850 therefore buys what $63,027 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. A typical home is worth $421,806, 5.4 times the median household income of $77,495.
$421,806typical home value
$77,495median household income
93.4BEA price parity
154,657metro population
Take-home pay in Traverse City
| Salary level | Gross | After tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile wage | $36,820 | $30,447 | $2,537 |
| Median wage | $47,470 | $38,551 | $3,213 |
| Average wage | $58,850 | $47,212 | $3,934 |
| 75th percentile wage | $66,350 | $52,890 | $4,408 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Salaries for every job in Traverse City
Management22 jobs
- Chief Executives$273K
- Architectural and Engineering Managers$157K
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$152K
- Marketing Managers$145K
- Financial Managers$139K
- Sales Managers$132K
- Human Resources Managers$126K
- Medical and Health Services Managers$125K
- Managers, All Other$117K
- Industrial Production Managers$109K
- Administrative Services Managers$108K
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$108K
- Construction Managers$107K
- General and Operations Managers$106K
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$95K
- Facilities Managers$91K
- Social and Community Service Managers$80K
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$71K
- Food Service Managers$69K
- Lodging Managers$68K
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$64K
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$56K
Legal2 jobs
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical27 jobs
- Physicians, All Other$243K
- Family Medicine Physicians$216K
- Dentists, General$197K
- Pharmacists$141K
- Physician Assistants$135K
- Veterinarians$129K
- Nurse Practitioners$127K
- Optometrists$120K
- Physical Therapists$100K
- Registered Nurses$90K
- Occupational Therapists$89K
- Speech-Language Pathologists$87K
- Dental Hygienists$85K
- Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$73K
- Dietitians and Nutritionists$67K
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65K
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$64K
- Surgical Technologists$61K
- Paramedics$55K
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$53K
- Medical Records Specialists$52K
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$51K
- Pharmacy Technicians$45K
- Opticians, Dispensing$45K
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$44K
- Emergency Medical Technicians$42K
- Dietetic Technicians$38K
Architecture and Engineering7 jobs
Computer and Mathematical8 jobs
Life, Physical, and Social Science5 jobs
Business and Financial Operations19 jobs
- Personal Financial Advisors$112K
- Management Analysts$109K
- Financial and Investment Analysts$91K
- Project Management Specialists$89K
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other$81K
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80K
- Accountants and Auditors$80K
- Logisticians$79K
- Insurance Underwriters$78K
- Loan Officers$75K
- Human Resources Specialists$70K
- Cost Estimators$69K
- Compliance Officers$69K
- Property Appraisers and Assessors$68K
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents$67K
- Fundraisers$66K
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$65K
- Training and Development Specialists$64K
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$55K
Construction and Extraction16 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77K
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons$74K
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$70K
- Construction and Building Inspectors$69K
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64K
- Sheet Metal Workers$64K
- Electricians$62K
- Carpenters$57K
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$56K
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$56K
- Highway Maintenance Workers$56K
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$54K
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$54K
- Roofers$53K
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$51K
- Construction Laborers$51K
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair16 jobs
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$108K
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77K
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$76K
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$75K
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66K
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65K
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64K
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61K
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61K
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58K
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$56K
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$49K
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$49K
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$48K
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$48K
- Tire Repairers and Changers$42K
Community and Social Service12 jobs
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$70K
- Health Education Specialists$68K
- Healthcare Social Workers$66K
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$65K
- Community Health Workers$64K
- Social Workers, All Other$64K
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$61K
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$61K
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$60K
- Clergy$55K
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$54K
- Social and Human Service Assistants$43K
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media5 jobs
Educational Instruction and Library15 jobs
- Instructional Coordinators$88K
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$73K
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$70K
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$69K
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$69K
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$69K
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$67K
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$60K
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$57K
- Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$52K
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$48K
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$41K
- Tutors$39K
- Library Technicians$37K
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$37K
Protective Service11 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$83K
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$83K
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$73K
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$66K
- Transportation Security Screeners$58K
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$57K
- Firefighters$49K
- Protective Service Workers, All Other$46K
- Security Guards$40K
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$38K
- Bailiffs$37K
Production27 jobs
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$73K
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$71K
- Tool and Die Makers$66K
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58K
- Machinists$53K
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53K
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$52K
- Food Batchmakers$49K
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$49K
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48K
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$48K
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47K
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46K
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46K
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45K
- Printing Press Operators$44K
- Production Workers, All Other$44K
- Helpers--Production Workers$44K
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43K
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43K
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42K
- Sewing Machine Operators$42K
- Butchers and Meat Cutters$41K
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$41K
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39K
- Bakers$38K
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$36K
Office and Administrative Support30 jobs
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$69K
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66K
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$65K
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63K
- Postal Service Clerks$61K
- Postal Service Mail Carriers$61K
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59K
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$57K
- Public Safety Telecommunicators$56K
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$55K
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$53K
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$52K
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks$49K
- Bill and Account Collectors$48K
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$48K
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$48K
- Billing and Posting Clerks$46K
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$46K
- Office Clerks, General$45K
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$45K
- Customer Service Representatives$44K
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$44K
- Order Clerks$44K
- Data Entry Keyers$43K
- Couriers and Messengers$40K
- Tellers$40K
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$37K
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35K
- Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$34K
- Library Assistants, Clerical$33K
Transportation and Material Moving13 jobs
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$81K
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$64K
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$55K
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$53K
- Bus Drivers, School$48K
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$47K
- Light Truck Drivers$47K
- Driver/Sales Workers$42K
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40K
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$40K
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37K
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$35K
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35K
Sales and Related15 jobs
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$127K
- Sales Engineers$99K
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$94K
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$84K
- Insurance Sales Agents$81K
- Real Estate Sales Agents$75K
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74K
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$70K
- Advertising Sales Agents$57K
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$49K
- Parts Salespersons$49K
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters$45K
- Counter and Rental Clerks$43K
- Retail Salespersons$37K
- Cashiers$32K
Healthcare Support11 jobs
- Physical Therapist Assistants$64K
- Dental Assistants$49K
- Medical Transcriptionists$44K
- Phlebotomists$44K
- Nursing Assistants$43K
- Medical Equipment Preparers$43K
- Medical Assistants$41K
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$40K
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38K
- Orderlies$36K
- Physical Therapist Aides$30K
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry1 jobs
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance7 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$59K
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$52K
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners$52K
- Pest Control Workers$47K
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$40K
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$39K
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36K
Personal Care and Service9 jobs
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$48K
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$45K
- Residential Advisors$45K
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$43K
- Manicurists and Pedicurists$39K
- Recreation Workers$38K
- Animal Caretakers$35K
- Childcare Workers$34K
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants$31K
Food Preparation and Serving Related14 jobs
- Chefs and Head Cooks$59K
- Waiters and Waitresses$46K
- Bartenders$45K
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44K
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$40K
- Cooks, Short Order$38K
- Cooks, Restaurant$38K
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$36K
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$34K
- Food Preparation Workers$33K
- Dishwashers$32K
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31K
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31K
- Cooks, Fast Food$30K
Jobs paid by the hour in Traverse City
For 1 job in the Traverse City, MI metro area BLS publishes an hourly wage only, because the work is rarely full-time all year (gigs, seasons, performances). An annual figure would overstate what most people earn, so we show the hourly rate.
| Job | Average per hour | Median per hour | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $43.59 | $43.69 | n/a |
Average salary in nearby cities
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Salary in Traverse City: questions
What is a good salary in Traverse City?
Half of all workers in the Traverse City metro earn less than $47,470 and the average is $58,850. Earning more than $66,350 puts you in the top quarter of local wages.
How much do you need to earn in Traverse City to match a $69,770 salary elsewhere?
About $65,146, because prices here are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4).
What are the highest-paying jobs in Traverse City?
Chief Executives ($273,420), Physicians, All Other ($242,740), Family Medicine Physicians ($216,410).
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. Area Traverse City, MI (45900), all occupations and 292 individual jobs. What a metro area includes.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.