Food Preparation Workers pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,860 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Traverse City earn between $27,590 and $36,040.
- $27K10th
- $28K25th
- $32KMedian
- $36K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,290 | $2,774 | $16.00 |
| Median | $31,980 | $2,665 | $15.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,590 | $2,299 | $13.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,040 | $3,003 | $17.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Traverse City earn about the same as the Michigan average ($32,720) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $33,290 | $31,980 | $26,570 | $42,860 | 400 |
| Michigan | $32,720 | $31,180 | $26,540 | $38,620 | 17,380 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Traverse City
On the average salary of $33,290, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $27,760 a year, or $2,313 a month and $1,068 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 food preparation workers? 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 $33,290 buys what about $35,653 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 4th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($34,160).
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Traverse City: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Traverse City?
$16.00 an hour on average, and $15.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $27,760 a year ($2,313 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,290.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Traverse City than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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