Cost of hiring in Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Kalamazoo-Portage, with about 1,970 people1. Medians run from $36,810 a year for virtual receptionists to $97,590 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Kalamazoo-Portage
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +5.2% | 80 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +1.1% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -1.4% | 1,970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -2.3% | 930 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -3.2% | 700 | |
| Project Coordinator | -4.6% | 640 | |
| Bookkeeper | -5.2% | 1,040 | |
| Office Manager | -5.6% | 880 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.0% | 1,080 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -7.4% | 70 | |
| Executive Assistant | -7.4% | 250 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.4% | 50 | |
| Accountant | -7.8% | 1,060 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -12.2% | 550 | |
| Recruiter | -15.0% | 690 | |
| Paralegal | -15.6% | 170 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.5% | 610 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $44,130 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,942 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Kalamazoo-Portage against the US
Kalamazoo-Portage pays above the US median for 2 of the 17 roles, most of all for payroll specialists (+5.2%) and data entry specialists (+1.1%), and below it for 15, furthest for marketing specialists (-21.5%). The middle gap across all 17 is -7.0%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for payroll specialists, #62 of 486 areas by median pay; its lowest is for HR assistants, #241 of 384.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Kalamazoo-Portage has more medical administrative assistants (8.6% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and e-commerce order specialists (0.6% against 0.5%), and fewer paralegals (1.6% against 2.5%) and sales development representatives (5.1% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Janesville-Beloit, WI is nearest, at -7.0%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | -6.9% | 17 | 23,500 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | -6.9% | 17 | 16,270 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | -7.0% | 17 | 6,200 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | -7.0% (this area) | 17 | 10,830 |
| Wausau, WI | -7.2% | 15 | 5,900 |
| Bangor, ME | -7.2% | 16 | 5,910 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Kalamazoo-Portage span $38,740–$119,990, the widest band (3.1×); HR assistants the narrowest, $36,310–$50,660. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 17 roles, HR assistants most ($37,340–$68,280 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, e-commerce order specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($71,920 against a $61,420 median for sales development representatives).
Kalamazoo-Portage against Michigan
Against Michigan as a whole, Kalamazoo-Portage pays more for 5 of 17 roles, led by data entry specialists (+9.8%) and medical administrative assistants (+9.1%), and less for 11, most of all sales development representatives (-16.3%). Its best rank within Michigan is #2 of 19 areas, for medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in Michigan
By jobs in these roles, Kalamazoo-Portage is #7 of 19 areas in Michigan. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Grand Rapids-Wyoming to Traverse City.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 51,290 | 17 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 21,260 | 17 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 19,610 | 17 |
| Mid Michigan (Nonmetro) | 11,610 | 17 |
| Flint, MI | 11,050 | 17 |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,870 | 17 |
| Northern Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,630 | 17 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,320 | 17 |
| Saginaw, MI | 8,170 | 17 |
| Traverse City, MI | 6,340 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Kalamazoo-Portage?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $97,590 a year, about $125,923 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,810.
Is hiring in Kalamazoo-Portage cheaper than the US median?
For 15 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-21.5%). 2 pay more than the US median, led by payroll specialists (+5.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.