Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,020 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Traverse City earn between $30,180 and $59,010.
- $27K10th
- $30K25th
- $41KMedian
- $59K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,550 | $3,796 | $21.90 |
| Median | $41,380 | $3,448 | $19.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,180 | $2,515 | $14.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,010 | $4,918 | $28.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Traverse City earn about the same as the Michigan average ($44,910) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $45,550 | $41,380 | $26,820 | $64,020 | 1,610 |
| Michigan | $44,910 | $37,760 | $25,960 | $64,350 | 65,090 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Traverse City
On the average salary of $45,550, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $37,090 a year, or $3,091 a month and $1,427 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 waiters and waitresses? 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 $45,550 buys what about $48,783 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 3rd of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($47,040).
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Traverse City: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Traverse City?
$21.90 an hour on average, and $19.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $37,090 a year ($3,091 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,550.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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