Construction Laborer Salary in Kalamazoo, MI
Construction Laborers in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn a median $51,380 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,531 take-home, or $3,461 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Kalamazoo, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,986
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$745
- Michigan income tax$1,933
- Take-home pay$41,531
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Kalamazoo, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,360 | $17.96 | $30,862 | $2,572 |
| 25th percentile | $45,390 | $21.82 | $36,973 | $3,081 |
| Median (50th) | $51,380 | $24.70 | $41,531 | $3,461 |
| 75th percentile | $63,330 | $30.45 | $50,625 | $4,219 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,900 | $32.16 | $53,302 | $4,442 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,380 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 construction laborer's $41,531 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,791 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are less concentrated in Kalamazoo, MI than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Kalamazoo, MI ranks #88 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 88 | Kalamazoo, MI | $51,380 | $41,531 | $43,791 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Flint, MI — $57,170
- Lansing, MI — $57,570
- Detroit, MI — $57,430
- Saginaw, MI — $49,000
- Traverse City, MI — $48,400
- Ann Arbor, MI — $50,910
- Grand Rapids, MI — $47,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Kalamazoo, MI?
The median construction laborer salary in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $51,380 a year, or about $24.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,390 and $63,330.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Kalamazoo, MI?
On the median $51,380 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $41,531 a year ($3,461 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,933 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Kalamazoo, MI a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 5.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,791 would in a typical U.S. city. Kalamazoo, MI ranks #88 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer 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) — 29% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kalamazoo, MI
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $90,730
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,040
- Electrician — $65,690