Unfortunately, pay scales lag behind our downstate cousins. Salaries, whether for professionals or entry-level positions, are traditionally 10 to 15 percent lower than in other cities in the state. This is partially attributable to the higher number of workers who want to live in Traverse City and are willing to accept a lower pay scale to do so. Our community, and its related job force, is well-educated. Approximately one quarter of the residents in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties have earned college degrees, far exceeding state averages.
Continual growth is an ongoing local issue.
Traverse City has doubled in size in the last 30 years. Statistics show that populations are rising in both Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties at a rate of 17 to 18 percent per decade. State projections estimate the number of Traverse area residents to grow from the current 70,000 to near 100,000 by the year 2010. As the population grows, so must the infrastructure to support it. Residents, new and old, continue to debate how to deal with overtaxed roadways, increased need for services and the threat of urban sprawl while retaining the environmental beauty and small-town charm.