Retail Salesperson Salary in Traverse City, MI
Retail Salespersons in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median $34,540 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,716 take-home, or $2,393 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Traverse City, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,965
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,141
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- Michigan income tax$1,217
- Take-home pay$28,716
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Traverse City, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,060 | $13.49 | $23,776 | $1,981 |
| 25th percentile | $29,690 | $14.27 | $25,025 | $2,085 |
| Median (50th) | $34,540 | $16.61 | $28,716 | $2,393 |
| 75th percentile | $37,370 | $17.97 | $30,869 | $2,572 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,160 | $22.67 | $38,320 | $3,193 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,540 buys in Traverse City, MI
Prices in Traverse City, MI are 6.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $28,716 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,754 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Traverse City, MI has 1.4× the national concentration of retail salesperson jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Traverse City, MI ranks #33 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| 2 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,860 | $29,144 | $33,257 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $36,640 | $31,620 | $33,095 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $34,600 | $29,981 | $33,080 |
| 5 | Rochester, MN | $36,000 | $29,999 | $33,030 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $36,378 | $32,944 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $34,650 | $28,986 | $32,654 |
| 8 | Rapid City, SD | $33,350 | $28,977 | $32,500 |
| 33 | Traverse City, MI | $34,540 | $28,716 | $30,754 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
About the job: retail salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Retail Salesperson salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Flint, MI — $34,320
- Grand Rapids, MI — $34,800
- Lansing, MI — $33,840
- Kalamazoo, MI — $33,660
- Detroit, MI — $35,130
- Ann Arbor, MI — $35,040
- Saginaw, MI — $31,210
- Muskegon, MI — $30,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Traverse City, MI?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $34,540 a year, or about $16.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,690 and $37,370.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Traverse City, MI?
On the median $34,540 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $28,716 a year ($2,393 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,217 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Traverse City, MI a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 6.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,754 would in a typical U.S. city. Traverse City, MI ranks #33 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Traverse City, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Traverse City, MI is $1,107 a month ($1,317 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.