SOC 51-4122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Kalamazoo, MI is $40,240 per year, 16.0% below the national median of $47,920.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Kalamazoo, MI is $40,240 per year, 16.0% below the national median of $47,920. Pay ranges from under $36,700 at the tenth percentile to more than $51,060 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $40,240 to $42,570.
Employment stands at 170, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Niles leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 279th of 346 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,700 | −23.4% |
| 25th | $40,240 | −16.0% |
| Median (50th) | $40,240 | −16.0% |
| 75th | $42,570 | −11.2% |
| 90th | $51,060 | +6.6% |
| Mean | $43,050 | −10.2% |
Other metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niles | $50,370 | 80 | |
| 2 | Lansing | $47,380 | 50 | |
| 3 | Detroit | $44,060 | 1,190 | |
| 4 | Muskegon | $42,830 | 90 | |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | $41,760 | 730 | |
| 6 | Jackson | $41,180 | 40 | |
| 7 | Ann Arbor | $38,900 | 50 | |
| 8 | Traverse City | $36,260 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kalamazoo run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $40,240 goes as far as $41,830 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$40,240as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,830US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $40,240 a year, 16.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,700 to $51,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 170 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Niles, at $50,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Kalamazoo, MI?
The median annual wage is $40,240, or $19.35 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,920, so pay in Kalamazoo, MI is 16.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kalamazoo, MI earns more than $51,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,700 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Niles, at $50,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 170 jobs in this occupation in Kalamazoo, MI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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