SOC 35-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers — Traverse City
Traverse City, MI · 10 metro areas compared
At $35,650, median pay for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Traverse City, MI tracks the national median of $33,980 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,650, median pay for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Traverse City, MI tracks the national median of $33,980 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $29,380 and $39,640. The lowest tenth earn under $26,920, while the highest tenth earn more than $45,170.
The area has 290 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.21 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Battle Creek leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 269th of 292 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,920 | −20.8% |
| 25th | $29,380 | −13.5% |
| Median (50th) | $35,650 | +4.9% |
| 75th | $39,640 | +16.7% |
| 90th | $45,170 | +32.9% |
| Mean | $35,780 | +5.3% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $35,810 | 170 | |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $34,830 | 510 | |
| 3 | Midland | $33,020 | 100 | |
| 4 | Niles | $31,160 | 260 | |
| 5 | Detroit | $30,760 | 6,740 | |
| 6 | Lansing | $30,470 | 470 | |
| 7 | Grand Rapids | $30,440 | 1,670 | |
| 8 | Kalamazoo | $30,190 | 340 | |
| 9 | Monroe | $29,470 | 110 | |
| 10 | Muskegon | $29,300 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Traverse City run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $35,650 goes as far as $37,058 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,058US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,650 a year, 4.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,920 to $45,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 290 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Battle Creek, at $35,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Traverse City, MI?
The median annual wage is $35,650, or $17.14 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 $33,980, so pay in Traverse City, MI is 4.9% higher. 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 $45,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,920 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 Battle Creek, at $35,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 290 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.
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