SOC 39-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Childcare Workers — Bay City
Bay City, MI · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Bay City, MI is $28,660 a year, trailing the national median of $34,980 by 18.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Bay City, MI is $28,660 a year, trailing the national median of $34,980 by 18.1%. Half of workers earn between $26,790 and $32,930. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $25,960 and the ninetieth at $36,570.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.5 of every thousand jobs. Traverse City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $33,100. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 171st of 176 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | −25.8% |
| 25th | $26,790 | −23.4% |
| Median (50th) | $28,660 | −18.1% |
| 75th | $32,930 | −5.9% |
| 90th | $36,570 | +4.5% |
| Mean | $30,510 | −12.8% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Traverse City | $33,100 | 230 | |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $32,700 | 760 | |
| 3 | Lansing | $32,000 | 920 | |
| 4 | Flint | $31,930 | 630 | |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | $31,690 | 1,800 | |
| 6 | Detroit | $31,060 | 5,810 | |
| 7 | Battle Creek | $30,940 | 160 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $30,860 | 280 | |
| 9 | Kalamazoo | $30,420 | 410 | |
| 10 | Midland | $29,880 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bay City run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $28,660 goes as far as $29,792 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$29,792US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,660 a year, 18.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $25,960 to $36,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Traverse City, at $33,100.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Childcare Workers in Bay City, MI?
The median annual wage is $28,660, or $13.78 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 $34,980, so pay in Bay City, MI is 18.1% 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 Bay City, MI earns more than $36,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $25,960 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 Traverse City, at $33,100 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 90 jobs in this occupation in Bay 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.
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