April 10, 2025
In 2024, the median wage in Traverse City was $22.37, slightly lower than the statewide median of $23.22. Among the 15 MSAs in Michigan, Traverse City’s median earnings ranked ninth highest between Jackson and Monroe. Nationally among MSAs, Traverse City’s median hourly wage ranked near the middle, placing 195th out of 387 MSAs.
2024 Michigan MSA Median Hourly Wage
| Metropolitan Statistical Area | Median Hourly Wage |
| Ann Arbor | $25.00 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $24.39 |
| Midland | $24.35 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $24.34 |
| Battle Creek | $23.17 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $22.84 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $22.77 |
| Jackson | $22.46 |
| Traverse City | $22.37 |
| Monroe | $22.22 |
| Saginaw | $21.94 |
| Niles | $21.72 |
| Flint | $21.64 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $20.74 |
| Bay City | $20.17 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The major occupational groups employing the most workers in the Traverse City MSA were Office and Administrative Support, Food Preparation and Serving Related, and Sales and Related. This region’s employment concentration in these major occupation groups was different from the state, which had a larger percentage of workers in Production and Transportation and Material Moving occupational groups.
Roughly four out of every 100 workers in the region were employed as a Retail salesperson, making it the most prominent occupation with 2,530 jobs in 2024. This was followed by Registered nurse (1,990 occupations), and Fast food and counter workers (1,790 occupations). Many of the most abundant occupations in the Traverse City MSA were the same statewide, except for Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators which was the occupation with the most workers in Michigan. Nine occupations in the Traverse City MSA had over 1,000 workers, and of those, only Registered nurses ($38.83) and General and operations managers ($40.24) paid a median wage greater than the statewide median ($23.22). Many of this MSA's highest paying occupations were concentrated in healthcare, with four out of the top five occupations by earnings located in this sector.
| Occupation | Employment | Median Wage |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,530 | $16.11 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,990 | $38.83 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,790 | $13.75 |
| Cashiers | 1,680 | $14.43 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,650 | $ 17.28 |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,610 | $20.93 |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,550 | $40.24 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,300 | $17.20 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,030 | $17.52 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
For more information on occupations and wages in the Traverse City MSA, visit the MCDA Data Search tool.
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