SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — Traverse City
Traverse City, MI · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay in Traverse City, MI is $107,460 a year, 32.7% under the national median of $159,670 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Traverse City, MI is $107,460 a year, 32.7% under the national median of $159,670 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $79,670 and $170,390. The lowest tenth earn under $67,330, while the highest tenth earn more than $236,650.
The area has 190 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Detroit records the highest median at $134,980. Of the 292 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 17th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,330 | −57.8% |
| 25th | $79,670 | −50.1% |
| Median (50th) | $107,460 | −32.7% |
| 75th | $170,390 | +6.7% |
| 90th | $236,650 | +48.2% |
| Mean | $141,920 | −11.1% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $134,980 | 10,110 | |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $132,920 | 640 | |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | $129,360 | 1,430 | |
| 4 | Lansing | $128,610 | 1,130 | |
| 5 | Niles | $123,030 | 110 | |
| 6 | Kalamazoo | $112,400 | 330 | |
| 7 | Flint | $107,830 | 260 | |
| 8 | Battle Creek | $104,770 | 70 | |
| 9 | Saginaw | $104,760 | 200 | |
| 10 | Monroe | $104,020 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Traverse City run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $107,460 goes as far as $111,705 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 30.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$107,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$111,705US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $107,460 a year, 32.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $67,330 to $236,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 190 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $134,980.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in Traverse City, MI?
The median annual wage is $107,460, or $51.67 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 $159,670, so pay in Traverse City, MI is 32.7% 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 $236,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $67,330 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 Detroit, at $134,980 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 190 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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