Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,560 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Traverse City earn between $37,330 and $41,020.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $41K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,950 | $3,329 | $19.21 |
| Median | $38,780 | $3,232 | $18.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,330 | $3,111 | $17.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,020 | $3,418 | $19.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Traverse City earn 7% more than the Michigan average ($37,370) and about the same as the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $39,950 | $38,780 | $35,100 | $47,560 | 270 |
| Michigan | $37,370 | $36,870 | $29,800 | $45,540 | 13,500 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Traverse City
On the average salary of $39,950, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $32,828 a year, or $2,736 a month and $1,263 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $39,950 buys what about $42,786 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 10.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 2nd of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($41,680).
- Ann Arbor$41,680
- Traverse City$39,950
- Battle Creek$39,040
- Grand Rapids$38,540
- Jackson$38,380
- Detroit$37,640
- Lansing$36,920
- Niles$36,350
- Midland$36,240
- Kalamazoo$36,150
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Traverse City: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Traverse City?
$19.21 an hour on average, and $18.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $32,828 a year ($2,736 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,950.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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