Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The median pay for a structural metal fabricators and fitters in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI is $60,200/year ($28.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.84), which stretches that salary to about $63,475 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,162/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $60K get you in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kalamazoo-Portage’s Regional Price Parity (94.84). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About structural metal fabricators and fitters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kalamazoo-Portage
Kalamazoo-Portage sits well above the national pay line for structural metal fabricators and fitters, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,162/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.84 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters in metros near Kalamazoo-Portage, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $51K | $51K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $47K | $49K |
| Niles | $45K | $49K |
| Saginaw | $45K | $50K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $65K | +26% | 770 |
| Alaska | $63K | +24% | 70 |
| Oregon | $62K | +21% | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +21% | 690 |
| Washington | $62K | +20% | 1,050 |
| Indiana | $60K | +17% | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $59K | +14% | 500 |
| Idaho | $58K | +13% | 320 |
| California | $58K | +12% | 3,420 |
| Wisconsin | $56K | +10% | 1,810 |
| Minnesota | $56K | +10% | 640 |
| New Jersey | $56K | +8% | 1,540 |
| Illinois | $55K | +8% | 1,910 |
| Kentucky | $55K | +8% | 450 |
| New York | $55K | +7% | 2,040 |
| North Dakota | $54K | +6% | 140 |
| Virginia | $54K | +5% | 1,220 |
| New Hampshire | $54K | +5% | 100 |
| Missouri | $54K | +4% | 550 |
| Ohio | $52K | +2% | 1,090 |
| Alabama | $52K | +2% | 2,130 |
| Wyoming | $52K | +1% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | +1% | 1,690 |
| Iowa | $51K | +0% | 650 |
| Colorado | $51K | -0% | 330 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -1% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -2% | 2,260 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -2% | 710 |
| Maryland | $50K | -2% | 620 |
| Georgia | $50K | -3% | 560 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -4% | 2,520 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -5% | 1,070 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -5% | 580 |
| New Mexico | $49K | -5% | 240 |
| Texas | $48K | -6% | 4,440 |
| Arizona | $48K | -6% | 940 |
| Utah | $48K | -6% | 780 |
| Michigan | $48K | -7% | 1,270 |
| Kansas | $48K | -7% | 620 |
| Delaware | $47K | -9% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -9% | 1,020 |
| Florida | $47K | -9% | 2,950 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -9% | 180 |
| Hawaii | $44K | -15% | 60 |
| Mississippi | $43K | -17% | 700 |
| Arkansas | $41K | -20% | 640 |
| Nevada | $40K | -23% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track structural metal fabricators and fitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kalamazoo-Portage numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a structural metal fabricators and fitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 29.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,162/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for structural metal fabricators and fitters in Kalamazoo-Portage?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural metal fabricators and fitters typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,319/month. At HUD’s $1,162/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is structural metal fabricators and fitter a high-paying job in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $60K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Kalamazoo-Portage compare to the national average for structural metal fabricators and fitters?
Kalamazoo-Portage pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.84), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI?
The median is $60,200 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,650, and experienced structural metal fabricators and fitters can clear $69,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Kalamazoo-Portage?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,988/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,162/month, which eats 29.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a structural metal fabricators and fitters salary go in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Kalamazoo-Portage has a Regional Price Parity of 94.84 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median structural metal fabricators and fitters salary is worth about $63,475 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do structural metal fabricators and fitters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.