Childcare Workers pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,150 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Traverse City earn between $30,650 and $38,000.
- $29K10th
- $31K25th
- $33KMedian
- $38K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,270 | $2,856 | $16.48 |
| Median | $33,100 | $2,758 | $15.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,650 | $2,554 | $14.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Traverse City earn 4% more than the Michigan average ($33,100) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $34,270 | $33,100 | $28,970 | $38,150 | 230 |
| Michigan | $33,100 | $30,970 | $27,210 | $39,340 | 14,010 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Traverse City
On the average salary of $34,270, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $28,506 a year, or $2,375 a month and $1,096 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Traverse City a good place for childcare workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $34,270 buys what about $36,703 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 12.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 2nd of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Flint pays the most ($34,840).
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Traverse City: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Traverse City?
$16.47 an hour on average, and $15.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $28,506 a year ($2,375 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,270.
Do childcare workers earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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