Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Traverse City, MI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median $37,270 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,793 take-home, or $2,566 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Traverse City, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,292
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,311
- Medicare (1.45%)$540
- Michigan income tax$1,333
- Take-home pay$30,793
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Traverse City, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,690 | $14.27 | $25,025 | $2,085 |
| 25th percentile | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,294 | $2,441 |
| Median (50th) | $37,270 | $17.92 | $30,793 | $2,566 |
| 75th percentile | $43,820 | $21.07 | $35,778 | $2,981 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,510 | $22.36 | $37,825 | $3,152 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,270 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 cooks, restaurant's $30,793 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,979 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 1.7× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Traverse City, MI ranks #95 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 95 | Traverse City, MI | $37,270 | $30,793 | $32,979 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Battle Creek, MI — $37,000
- Jackson, MI — $36,680
- Saginaw, MI — $36,000
- Niles, MI — $36,610
- Flint, MI — $36,350
- Grand Rapids, MI — $37,360
- Lansing, MI — $37,100
- Muskegon, MI — $35,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Traverse City, MI?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $37,270 a year, or about $17.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,300 and $43,820.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Traverse City, MI?
On the median $37,270 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $30,793 a year ($2,566 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,333 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Traverse City, MI a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 6.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,979 would in a typical U.S. city. Traverse City, MI ranks #95 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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 cooks, restaurant’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
- Bartender — $37,300
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,560