How much does a food server make in Traverse City?
$35,070a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Traverse City, MI metro area. That is $16.86 an hour or $2,923 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.86
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 97 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 140
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,160Median: $35,070Highest 10%: $39,210
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,160 | $14.02 | |
| 25th | $31,300 | $15.05 | |
| Median | $35,070 | $16.86 | |
| 75th | $36,950 | $17.76 | |
| 90th | $39,210 | $18.85 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Saginaw, MI | $37,030 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,710 |
| Muskegon, MI | $36,250 |
| Detroit, MI | $35,170 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $34,880 |
| Lansing, MI | $34,700 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,170 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $32,770 |
| Bay City, MI | $32,370 |
| Niles, MI | $31,840 |
| Jackson, MI | $30,090 |
| South Bend, IN | $29,800 |
| Flint, MI | $29,710 |
Related jobs in Traverse City
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $43,030 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $41,380 |
| Cook | $38,780 |
| Bartender | $37,300 |
| Cook | $37,270 |
| Cook | $36,090 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,650 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,980 |
| Dishwasher | $31,130 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Traverse City?
The median hourly pay in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $16.86 ($35,070 a year).
Do food servers make more in Traverse City than the national average?
No: $35,070 against $35,360 nationally, 1% less.
How does Traverse City compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $34,260, so Traverse City pays 2% more.
Where does Traverse City rank for food server pay?
97 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,210 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.