How much does a waiter and waitress make in Traverse City?
$41,380a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Traverse City, MI metro area. That is $19.89 an hour or $3,448 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.89
- Vs. national median
- +17%
- Rank among cities
- 53 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 1,610
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,820Median: $41,380Highest 10%: $64,020
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,820 | $12.89 | |
| 25th | $30,180 | $14.51 | |
| Median | $41,380 | $19.89 | |
| 75th | $59,010 | $28.37 | |
| 90th | $64,020 | $30.78 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Muskegon, MI | $44,920 |
| Flint, MI | $44,030 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $42,930 |
| Bay City, MI | $40,500 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $40,230 |
| Jackson, MI | $39,920 |
| Saginaw, MI | $39,430 |
| Monroe, MI | $38,780 |
| Lansing, MI | $38,210 |
| Niles, MI | $38,130 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $37,760 |
| Midland, MI | $37,750 |
| Detroit, MI | $37,490 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,370 |
| South Bend, IN | $28,740 |
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 |
| Cook | $38,780 |
| Bartender | $37,300 |
| Cook | $37,270 |
| Cook | $36,090 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $35,650 |
| Food Server | $35,070 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,980 |
| Dishwasher | $31,130 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Traverse City?
The median hourly pay in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $19.89 ($41,380 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Traverse City than the national average?
Yes: $41,380 against $35,230 nationally, 17% more.
How does Traverse City compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $37,760, so Traverse City pays 10% more.
Where does Traverse City rank for waiter and waitress pay?
53 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $64,020 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.