Grand Rapids Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Grand Rapids, MI: $22.87/hr median hourly wage, $47,570 median annual salary, cost of living index 90, and $12.48/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Michigan taxes.
Grand Rapids Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Grand Rapids, MI is $22.87/hr,and the median annual wage is $47,570. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.18/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.48/hr, and the local minimum wage is $12.48/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area (598,260 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Grand Rapids shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$47,570
$22.87/hr
Cost of Living
90
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$12.48
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Grand Rapids, MI Overview
Population
198,917
Median Salary
$47,570
Average Salary
$60,660
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Rent
$1,100/mo
Job Growth
+2.2%
Sales Tax
6%
Grand Rapids is located in Michigan with a population of 198,917. The median annual wage across all occupations is $47,570 ($22.87/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro), which is $3,410 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.2%.
Grand Rapids Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Grand Rapids, MI built around the $47,570 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $29,493 | $14.18/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $47,570 | $22.87/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $67,549 | $32.48/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $84,675 | $40.71/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Grand Rapids Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$38,381
$3,198.40/month · $1,476.18/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.3%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,476.18 take-home per paycheck after estimated Michigan and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$47,570
Federal Tax
-$3,528
State Tax
-$2,022
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,639
Net Pay
$38,381
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,964.17 | $47,570.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$294.03 | -$3,528.40 |
| Michigan State Tax (4.25% eff.) | -$168.48 | -$2,021.73 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$245.78 | -$2,949.34 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$57.48 | -$689.77 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,198.40 | $38,380.77 |
Salary Comparison: Grand Rapids vs Other Cities
See how Grand Rapids's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI | $47,570 | 90 | $52,856 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Wyoming, MI | $47,570 | 87.4 | $54,428 |
| Kentwood, MI | $47,570 | 85.8 | $55,443 |
| Holland, MI | $47,570 | 82.2 | $57,871 |
| Egg Harbor Township, NJ | $47,520 | 124 | $38,323 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100). Living in Grand Rapids is 10% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Annual Rent Cost
$13,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $38,381 annual take-home pay in Grand Rapids has the purchasing power of approximately $42,645 in an average-cost US area. Your $47,570 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $47,570.
Salary Tips for Grand Rapids Workers
- Research top industries. Grand Rapids's top industries include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $47,570 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Michigan
Holland
Jackson
Kalamazoo
Kentwood
Lansing
Lincoln Park
Livonia
Macomb Township
Madison Heights
Midland
Muskegon
Novi
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Grand Rapids salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Grand Rapids indexed at 90.
- Median salary: $47,570 annual, $22.87 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI MSA (598,260 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $60,660 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Grand Rapids was $57,000.
- Tax burden reflects Michigan 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.25%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Grand Rapids: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Michigan.
- Housing context: median home price $260,000, median rent $1,100/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Grand Rapids, MI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Grand Rapids unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Grand Rapids QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Michigan, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Grand Rapids's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Michigan labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median hourly wage in Grand Rapids, MI is $22.87 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $47,570. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.18/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.48/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median salary in Grand Rapids, MI is $47,570 per year, or $22.87 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area). The BLS mean salary is $60,660. This is $3,410 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI?
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100), meaning it is 10% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $260,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,100.
What are the best industries in Grand Rapids?
The top industries in Grand Rapids, MI include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 2.2% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $47,570.
How does Grand Rapids's salary compare to other cities?
Grand Rapids's median salary of $47,570 is 6.7% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 90), the real purchasing power is approximately $52,856.
What is the minimum wage in Grand Rapids, MI?
The minimum wage in Grand Rapids, MI is $12.48 per hour. This equals approximately $25,958 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $5.23 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.