Bartender Salary in Traverse City, MI
Bartenders in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median $37,300 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,816 take-home, or $2,568 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Traverse City, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,296
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,313
- Medicare (1.45%)$541
- Michigan income tax$1,335
- Take-home pay$30,816
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Bartender pay by experience in Traverse City, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,190 | $12.59 | $22,315 | $1,860 |
| 25th percentile | $28,860 | $13.88 | $24,393 | $2,033 |
| Median (50th) | $37,300 | $17.93 | $30,816 | $2,568 |
| 75th percentile | $52,570 | $25.27 | $42,437 | $3,536 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,740 | $36.89 | $59,806 | $4,984 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,300 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 bartender's $30,816 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,004 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 1.8× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Traverse City, MI ranks #40 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 40 | Traverse City, MI | $37,300 | $30,816 | $33,004 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Lansing, MI — $40,230
- Niles, MI — $38,970
- Grand Rapids, MI — $38,430
- Kalamazoo, MI — $37,660
- Flint, MI — $36,130
- Ann Arbor, MI — $38,300
- Detroit, MI — $36,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Traverse City, MI?
The median bartender salary in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $37,300 a year, or about $17.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,860 and $52,570.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Traverse City, MI?
On the median $37,300 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $30,816 a year ($2,568 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,335 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Traverse City, MI a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 6.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,004 would in a typical U.S. city. Traverse City, MI ranks #40 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender 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) — 43% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Traverse City, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,030
- Waiter and Waitress — $41,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,560