Kalamazoo Employment

Employment and Industries in the Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

Kalamazoo has a diversified economy which includes the production of items such as automotive testing equipment and hydraulic systems, pharmaceutical and medical products, machinery, metal products, guitars, paper products and cereals. In addition, financial services are an integral part of the economy. Western Michigan University is a major employer and is also a significant economic factor in the area.

Kalamazoo is home to Eaton Corporation's North American truck component headquarters. Checker Motors is also based in Kalamazoo. Pfizer has offices, manufacturing facilities and research labs in the city.

Kalamazoo includes a diverse workforce. The are's colleges help job seekers through training and placement programs in collaboration with local companies. Significant job providing sectors include trade, transportation and utilities; healthcare, education, manufacturing, government, professional and business services; leisure and hospitality and biotechnology.

Western Michigan University's Business Technology and Research Park includes the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center. The university attracts information technology, advanced engineering and life sciences companies to the area.

Noteworthy information about Kalamazoo Michigan: The estimated median household income in 2007 was $30,000. In 2008 the cost of living index in Kalamazoo was at 83.9. The nation's average is 100. Regarding the adult population, 32.7% have achieved a bachelor's degree or better.

Kalamazoo's leading job providers are:

  • Western Michigan University - Education
  • Borgess Medical Center - Healthcare
  • Pfizer - Pharmaceuticals, chemicals and urethanes
  • Bronson Methodist Hospital - Healthcare
  • Stryker Medical Technology - Surgical and hospital equipment
  • Kalamazoo Public Schools - Education
  • National City Bank - Banking & financial services
  • Summit Polymers Inc - Injection molded thermo-plastics
  • Meijer, Inc - Retail goods and household products
  • Portage Public Schools - Education
  • County of Kalamazoo - Government
  • City of Kalamazoo - Government
  • Kalamazoo Valley Comm. College - Education
  • United States Postal Service - Government
  • State Farm Insurance Claims - Insurance
  • Target Distribution - Distribution Consultant
  • Eaton Corporation - Automotive parts distributor
  • Walmart - Retail goods and household products
  • Flowserve Corp - Fluid sealing systems
  • Graphic Packaging - Recycled paperboard/folding cartons

Some of the organizations providing assistance to local companies are:

People interested in staying up-to-date with local business activities can read the local newspaper the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Jobs in Kalamazoo

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations143950$48,230$23.19100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations19300$38,600$18.5613.75
3Production Occupations15800$38,920$18.715.6
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations15070$25,450$12.248.7
5Sales and Related Occupations13580$40,930$19.689.5
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations10950$34,410$16.556.7
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations9110$88,180$42.395.85
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7670$59,580$28.646
9Management Occupations7070$104,380$50.186.35
10Healthcare Support Occupations6620$30,930$14.872.85
11Fast Food and Counter Workers6220$22,960$11.042.45
12Business and Financial Operations Occupations5880$65,770$31.625.35
13Construction and Extraction Occupations5340$52,850$25.414.6
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations5220$47,920$23.043.75
15Customer Service Representatives4250$34,010$16.351.75
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3940$30,930$14.873.6
17Cashiers3830$23,760$11.422.2
18Retail Salespersons3790$29,420$14.142.7
19Personal Care and Service Occupations3590$32,190$15.484.65
20Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand3490$32,510$15.631.8
21Office Clerks, General3100$36,570$17.581.9
22Home Health and Personal Care Aides2910$24,620$11.840
23Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations2820$66,530$31.990.8
24Architecture and Engineering Occupations2760$75,080$36.11.7
25Waiters and Waitresses2700$25,200$12.121.65
26Community and Social Service Occupations2530$48,380$23.261.75
27Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2490$34,270$16.480.8
28General and Operations Managers2370$104,920$50.441.5
29Protective Service Occupations2180$46,190$22.212.2
30Computer and Mathematical Occupations2140$73,230$35.213
31Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products1970$60,690$29.180.85
32Stockers and Order Fillers1950$28,000$13.461.25
33Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive1690$36,090$17.351.4
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1580$31,340$15.071.5
35Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1550$40,170$19.310.9
36Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1470$51,670$24.841.8
37Cooks, Restaurant1430$26,000$12.50.9
38Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1330$38,490$18.511.05
39First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1300$57,470$27.630.95
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1290$44,470$21.381.2
41Light Truck Drivers1260$40,330$19.390.6
42Nursing Assistants1120$31,680$15.230.95
43Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1110$36,540$17.570.35
44First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1100$43,940$21.130.95
45Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1090$31,710$15.240.1
46Accountants and Auditors1040$70,530$33.910.9
47Medical Assistants1020$32,640$15.690.45
48Receptionists and Information Clerks1020$31,500$15.140.7
49First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1010$36,120$17.370.6
50Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers950$29,540$14.20.75
51Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters940$68,830$33.090.3
52Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics920$44,660$21.470.5
53Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants920$35,640$17.130.4
54First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers900$65,840$31.660.4
55Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners860$25,850$12.430.9
56Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other820$62,940$30.260.7
57Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic800$37,690$18.120.1
58Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks790$33,250$15.980.4
59Self-Enrichment Teachers750$53,950$25.940.2
60Construction Laborers730$38,420$18.470.9
61Industrial Machinery Mechanics710$50,570$24.310.2
62Mechanical Engineers690$78,590$37.780.2
63Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers690$58,400$28.070.4
64First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers670$64,380$30.950.4
65Food Preparation Workers670$24,780$11.910.5
66Bartenders660$31,370$15.080.4
67Electricians650$59,550$28.630.45
68Childcare Workers640$27,530$13.240.7
69Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel640$60,760$29.210.7
70Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors630$40,350$19.40.2
71Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders630$42,900$20.620.1
72Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric630$219,630$105.590.3
73Machinists580$47,620$22.890.2
74Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators560$36,550$17.570.4
75Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers550$24,100$11.590.3
76Tellers530$30,500$14.660.25
77Carpenters520$43,260$20.80.6
78Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators520$36,900$17.740.1
79Human Resources Specialists520$60,850$29.260.4
80Security Guards520$29,000$13.940.7
81Child, Family, and School Social Workers510$50,220$24.140.2
82Industrial Engineers510$84,560$40.650.2
83Legal Occupations510$84,650$40.70.8
84Packers and Packagers, Hand510$26,190$12.590.4
85Computer User Support Specialists490$48,680$23.40.4
86Counter and Rental Clerks470$29,170$14.020.3
87Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity470$30,430$14.630.3
88Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents460$75,540$36.320.3
89Billing and Posting Clerks450$39,570$19.030.3
90Dishwashers450$23,210$11.160.3
91Pharmacy Technicians450$32,710$15.730.3
92Social and Human Service Assistants450$38,370$18.450.3
93Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers440$24,830$11.940.1
94Medical and Health Services Managers440$91,850$44.160.3
95Recreation Workers440$27,220$13.090.3
96Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers440$87,790$42.210.65
97Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks410$55,560$26.710.2
98Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists400$50,730$24.390.45
99Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education400$37,280$17.920.3
100Financial Managers390$107,810$51.830.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Kalamazoo Colleges
Kalamazoo colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Kalamazoo Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$48,230143,950
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,60019,300
Production Occupations$38,92015,800
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,45015,070
Sales and Related Occupations$40,93013,580
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,41010,950
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$88,1809,110
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$59,5807,670
Management Occupations$104,3807,070
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,9306,620
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,9606,220
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,7705,880
Construction and Extraction Occupations$52,8505,340
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,9205,220
Customer Service Representatives$34,0104,250
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,9303,940
Cashiers$23,7603,830
Retail Salespersons$29,4203,790
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,1903,590
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,5103,490
Office Clerks, General$36,5703,100
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,6202,910
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$66,5302,820
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$75,0802,760
Waiters and Waitresses$25,2002,700
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,3802,530
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$34,2702,490
General and Operations Managers$104,9202,370
Protective Service Occupations$46,1902,180
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,2302,140
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,6901,970
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,0001,950
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,0901,690
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,3401,580
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$40,1701,550
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$51,6701,470
Cooks, Restaurant$26,0001,430
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,4901,330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$57,4701,300
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,4701,290
Light Truck Drivers$40,3301,260
Nursing Assistants$31,6801,120
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$36,5401,110
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,9401,100
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$31,7101,090
Accountants and Auditors$70,5301,040
Medical Assistants$32,6401,020
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,5001,020
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,1201,010
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,540950

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Kalamazoo, Michigan Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$48,230143,950
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,60019,300
Production Occupations$38,92015,800
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,45015,070
Sales and Related Occupations$40,93013,580
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,41010,950
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$88,1809,110
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$59,5807,670
Management Occupations$104,3807,070
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,9306,620
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$65,7705,880
Construction and Extraction Occupations$52,8505,340
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,9205,220
Customer Service Representatives$34,0104,250
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,9303,940
Retail Salespersons$29,4203,790
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,1903,590
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,5103,490
Office Clerks, General$36,5703,100
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$66,5302,820
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$75,0802,760
Waiters and Waitresses$25,2002,700
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,3802,530
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$34,2702,490
General and Operations Managers$104,9202,370
Protective Service Occupations$46,1902,180
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,2302,140
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,6901,970
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,0001,950
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,0901,690
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,3401,580
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$40,1701,550
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$51,6701,470
Cooks, Restaurant$26,0001,430
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$38,4901,330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$57,4701,300
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,4701,290
Light Truck Drivers$40,3301,260
Nursing Assistants$31,6801,120
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$36,5401,110
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,9401,100
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$31,7101,090
Accountants and Auditors$70,5301,040
Medical Assistants$32,6401,020
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,5001,020
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,1201,010
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,540950
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,830940
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$44,660920
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$35,640920

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