SOC 51-7042 · Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

The average salary for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Kalamazoo, Michigan is $39,500 a year ($18.99 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $37,090: half of the 90 people in this job in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($43,570).

$39,500average per year

$18.99 / hourMedian $37,090Take-home ≈ $32,486

  • $32K10th
  • $37K25th
  • $37KMedian
  • $43K75th
  • $48K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

90people in this job
-9%vs U.S. average
#6 of 6Michigan metros
95cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay range in Kalamazoo

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,230 or more. The middle half of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Kalamazoo earn between $37,090 and $42,840.

  • $32K10th
  • $37K25th
  • $37KMedian
  • $43K75th
  • $48K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$39,500$3,292$18.99
Median$37,090$3,091$17.83
Entry level (25th percentile)$37,090$3,091$17.83
Experienced (75th percentile)$42,840$3,570$20.60

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing pay in Kalamazoo vs. Michigan and the U.S.

Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) in Kalamazoo earn 15% less than the Michigan average ($46,480) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($43,570). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $43,380.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Kalamazoo$39,500$37,090$31,880$48,23090
Michigan$46,480$47,680$38,130$54,5005,250
United States$43,570$43,380$32,110$56,83061,420

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary after taxes in Kalamazoo

On the average salary of $39,500, a single filer in Kalamazoo takes home about $32,486 a year, or $2,707 a month and $1,249 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).

Michigan paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Kalamazoo a good place for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing)? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Kalamazoo area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.8), so the average $39,500 buys what about $41,649 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Kalamazoo ($48,510). A typical home costs $279,752, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $39,500 is worth in another city

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in other Michigan cities

Kalamazoo ranks 6th of 6 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($47,300).

All Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salaries in Michigan

Highest-paying cities for woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing)

Longview, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,100).

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in Kalamazoo, MI.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing salary in Kalamazoo: questions

How much do woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) make an hour in Kalamazoo?

$18.99 an hour on average, and $17.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) salary in Kalamazoo?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,090, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) take-home pay in Kalamazoo?

About $32,486 a year ($2,707 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,500.

Do woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders (except sawing) earn more in Kalamazoo than elsewhere?

The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($43,570).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-7042; area Kalamazoo-Portage, MI (28020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.96, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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