Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Traverse City, MI
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median of $35,070 a year ($16.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,210 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 2% higher than the Michigan statewide median of $34,260. There are 2.0 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,150, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Traverse City, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| 25th percentile | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Median | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| 75th percentile | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Average (mean) | $34,150 | $16.42 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,922.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,461.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,348.85 |
| Weekly | $674.42 |
| Hourly | $16.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | $37,030 | 290 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,710 | 270 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $36,250 | 180 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $35,170 | 3,210 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,880 | 280 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $34,700 | 430 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $34,170 | 360 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $32,770 | 1,160 |
| Bay City, MI | $32,370 | 70 |
| Niles, MI | $31,840 | 110 |
| Jackson, MI | $30,090 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
| Flint, MI | $29,710 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Traverse City, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,560 | $13.73 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Bartender | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,980 | $15.37 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| Dishwasher | $31,130 | $14.97 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,000 | $27.40 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,090 | $17.35 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Traverse City, MI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Traverse City, MI?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $35,070 a year, or $16.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Traverse City, MI?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn at least $39,210 a year. The top 25% earn $36,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Traverse City, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,160 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $31,300 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Traverse City, MI?
About 140 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Traverse City, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.