Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Kalamazoo, MI
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn a median $44,350 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,181 take-home, or $3,015 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Kalamazoo, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,142
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,750
- Medicare (1.45%)$643
- Michigan income tax$1,634
- Take-home pay$36,181
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Kalamazoo, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,230 | $16.46 | $28,480 | $2,373 |
| 25th percentile | $37,380 | $17.97 | $30,877 | $2,573 |
| Median (50th) | $44,350 | $21.32 | $36,181 | $3,015 |
| 75th percentile | $49,180 | $23.64 | $39,857 | $3,321 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,480 | $23.79 | $40,085 | $3,340 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,350 buys in Kalamazoo, MI
Prices in Kalamazoo, MI are 5.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 18% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $36,181 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,150 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kalamazoo, MI has 1.3× the national concentration of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Kalamazoo, MI ranks #20 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 20 | Kalamazoo, MI | $44,350 | $36,181 | $38,150 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Lansing, MI — $40,060
- Detroit, MI — $40,330
- Grand Rapids, MI — $36,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Kalamazoo, MI?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $44,350 a year, or about $21.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,380 and $49,180.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Kalamazoo, MI?
On the median $44,350 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $36,181 a year ($3,015 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,634 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Kalamazoo, MI a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 5.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,150 would in a typical U.S. city. Kalamazoo, MI ranks #20 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand afford rent in Kalamazoo, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kalamazoo, MI is $998 a month ($1,162 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.