SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Traverse City
Traverse City, MI · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Traverse City, MI is $57,000 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 8.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Traverse City, MI is $57,000 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 8.8%. Half of workers earn between $45,910 and $66,610. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,730 and the ninetieth at $79,770.
The area has 130 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.9 of every thousand jobs. Kalamazoo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,050. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 142nd of 292 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,730 | −38.0% |
| 25th | $45,910 | −26.5% |
| Median (50th) | $57,000 | −8.8% |
| 75th | $66,610 | +6.6% |
| 90th | $79,770 | +27.7% |
| Mean | $59,220 | −5.2% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalamazoo | $63,050 | 150 | |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | $61,890 | 610 | |
| 3 | Ann Arbor | $60,910 | 260 | |
| 4 | Detroit | $60,870 | 2,660 | |
| 5 | Midland | $59,700 | 30 | |
| 6 | Battle Creek | $59,540 | 80 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $59,510 | 50 | |
| 8 | Lansing | $59,280 | 210 | |
| 9 | Niles | $58,570 | 120 | |
| 10 | Flint | $57,800 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Traverse City run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $57,000 goes as far as $59,252 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,252US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,000 a year, 8.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,730 to $79,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kalamazoo, at $63,050.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Traverse City, MI?
The median annual wage is $57,000, or $27.40 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Traverse City, MI is 8.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Traverse City, MI earns more than $79,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,730 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kalamazoo, at $63,050 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Traverse City, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data