Machinist Salary in Kalamazoo, MI
Machinists in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn a median $49,440 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,055 take-home, or $3,338 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Kalamazoo, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,753
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,065
- Medicare (1.45%)$717
- Michigan income tax$1,850
- Take-home pay$40,055
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Machinist pay by experience in Kalamazoo, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,030 | $19.73 | $33,655 | $2,805 |
| 25th percentile | $47,060 | $22.63 | $38,243 | $3,187 |
| Median (50th) | $49,440 | $23.77 | $40,055 | $3,338 |
| 75th percentile | $60,840 | $29.25 | $48,730 | $4,061 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,210 | $36.16 | $58,795 | $4,900 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,440 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 machinist's $40,055 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,234 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 2.9× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Kalamazoo, MI ranks #110 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 110 | Kalamazoo, MI | $49,440 | $40,055 | $42,234 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Michigan
- Lansing, MI — $59,850
- Detroit, MI — $59,310
- Saginaw, MI — $52,360
- Niles, MI — $50,430
- Jackson, MI — $49,840
- Grand Rapids, MI — $50,110
- Muskegon, MI — $48,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Kalamazoo, MI?
The median machinist salary in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area is $49,440 a year, or about $23.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,060 and $60,840.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Kalamazoo, MI?
On the median $49,440 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $40,055 a year ($3,338 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,850 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Kalamazoo, MI a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 5.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,234 would in a typical U.S. city. Kalamazoo, MI ranks #110 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist 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) — 30% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kalamazoo, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $66,910
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $49,400
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $48,800
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,440
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $38,880
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $38,820