Bartenders Salary in Traverse City, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Traverse City, MI

Median annual salary $44,520 +32.8% vs national
Median hourly $21.41
10th percentile $27,180
90th percentile $73,550
Employed locally 550
National median $33,530

Compare Bartenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Traverse City, MI stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Bartenders
in
Traverse City, MI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,180
    25th
    $29,510
    50th (median)
    $44,520
    75th
    $58,790
    90th
    $73,550

    Traverse City economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,495 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 57% Median Bartenders salary is 43% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Bartenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $80,040
    Urban Honolulu, HI $70,300
    Hawaii $68,820
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $65,480
    New York $60,750
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $59,390

    Nearby metros — Bartenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $46,470
    Ann Arbor, MI $46,080
    Midland, MI $45,850
    Lansing-East Lansing, MI $45,330
    Flint, MI $45,130
    Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $43,150

    Related occupations in Traverse City, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,600
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,950
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,650
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,510
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $30,270
    Food Preparation Workers $32,140

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Traverse City?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Traverse City, MI is $21.41, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.90 or more per hour.

    Is Traverse City above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Traverse City, MI is 32.8% above the national median of $33,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Bartenders in Traverse City?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $27,180 per year in Traverse City, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,510.