Jobs, pay and daily life in Grand Rapids, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Grand Rapids is a city in Michigan with 198,535 residents. The median household earns $69,108 a year and the median rent is $1,266 a month, which is 22.0% of the median household income. It is part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan area, where BLS counts 598,260 jobs.
Federal jobs in Michigan (335) →State guide: MichiganCountry guide
There are 335 federal postings open in Michigan (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Michigan →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 19,540 | 3.61 | $39,120 | $36,010 | $56,910 | -12% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 18,840 | 1.66 | $36,130 | $30,220 | $49,500 | -10% |
| Registered Nurses | 13,740 | 1.06 | $83,920 | $78,840 | $101,820 | -14% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 13,190 | 0.89 | $28,240 | $25,960 | $36,000 | -9% |
| Retail Salespersons | 12,600 | 0.84 | $34,800 | $27,820 | $56,690 | -2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 11,490 | 1.35 | $35,890 | $29,440 | $46,000 | -3% |
| Office Clerks, General | 11,310 | 1.19 | $45,320 | $30,820 | $61,050 | +1% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 10,960 | 1.01 | $35,840 | $29,970 | $46,500 | -4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 10,880 | 0.81 | $101,720 | $51,640 | $219,060 | -4% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 10,820 | 1.36 | $58,270 | $42,840 | $73,740 | -1% |
| Cashiers | 9,670 | 0.81 | $29,880 | $27,040 | $36,470 | -9% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 9,010 | 0.90 | $44,990 | $30,210 | $63,340 | +0% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 8,160 | 0.49 | $34,910 | $28,110 | $42,670 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 8,080 | 0.92 | $42,930 | $27,140 | $73,590 | +22% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 7,020 | 3.05 | $40,430 | $34,460 | $59,140 | -17% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 6,980 | 1.47 | $72,170 | $43,610 | $132,660 | +0% |
| Nursing Assistants | 5,870 | 1.05 | $38,340 | $36,530 | $45,230 | -9% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 5,670 | 1.02 | $76,270 | $51,870 | $130,520 | -9% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 5,490 | 1.00 | $36,310 | $28,680 | $45,780 | -1% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 5,470 | 0.93 | $48,530 | $36,290 | $74,030 | -2% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | 540 | 0.69 | $248,660 | $113,910 | $518,790 | +16% |
| Physicians, All Other | 2,200 | 1.67 | $179,910 | $52,330 | $399,550 | -32% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 1,520 | 1.79 | $156,280 | $111,660 | $206,720 | -9% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 1,590 | 0.62 | $142,700 | $95,380 | $214,850 | -19% |
| Pharmacists | 820 | 0.66 | $140,710 | $119,850 | $161,890 | -0% |
| Financial Managers | 2,820 | 0.87 | $133,380 | $77,680 | $223,180 | -20% |
| Human Resources Managers | 750 | 0.89 | $132,100 | $87,540 | $216,360 | -12% |
| Physician Assistants | 940 | 1.51 | $131,930 | $102,680 | $157,890 | -3% |
| Sales Managers | 2,490 | 1.01 | $131,030 | $72,070 | $221,790 | -12% |
| Lawyers | 1,430 | 0.49 | $129,360 | $79,090 | $308,190 | -19% |
| Managers, All Other | 1,030 | 0.43 | $128,910 | $74,530 | $208,410 | -9% |
| Marketing Managers | 970 | 0.64 | $128,900 | $73,080 | $208,560 | -23% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 970 | 0.78 | $125,660 | $91,440 | $151,820 | -5% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 2,360 | 2.49 | $114,410 | $76,940 | $174,530 | -9% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 780 | 0.71 | $113,590 | $57,270 | $174,690 | +8% |
| Software Developers | 4,310 | 0.66 | $107,520 | $75,670 | $161,840 | -21% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,540 | 0.67 | $105,900 | $65,140 | $211,140 | -15% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 730 | 0.72 | $102,920 | $60,500 | $171,370 | -10% |
| Construction Managers | 1,290 | 0.88 | $102,370 | $61,910 | $167,650 | -11% |
| General and Operations Managers | 10,880 | 0.81 | $101,720 | $51,640 | $219,060 | -4% |
These figures are for the whole Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,570 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.7% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.9% |
| Retail trade | 10.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 10.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.7% |
| Other services | 4.8% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.2% |
| Construction | 3.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 3.2% |
| Public administration | 2.0% |
| Information | 1.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.7% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 68.7% |
| Public transit | 3.0% |
| Walk | 4.2% |
| Work from home | 13.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 6.0% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,108 |
| Income per person | $35,921 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,266 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 22.0% |
| Median home value | $244,500 |
| Homeowners | 54.0% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 95.5 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,570 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 4.25%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 89.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 41.6% |
| Born abroad | 11.1% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 69.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5.0 | 23 | 62 |
| Feb | -4.4 | 24 | 60 |
| Mar | 0.9 | 34 | 63 |
| Apr | 7.3 | 45 | 96 |
| May | 13.7 | 57 | 104 |
| Jun | 19.1 | 66 | 88 |
| Jul | 21.8 | 71 | 79 |
| Aug | 21.2 | 70 | 87 |
| Sep | 17.4 | 63 | 79 |
| Oct | 10.2 | 50 | 109 |
| Nov | 3.7 | 39 | 73 |
| Dec | -2.0 | 28 | 66 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | MI | 109 mi | 122,036 | $82,212 | $1,649 |
| Milwaukee | WI | 117 mi | 563,512 | $56,792 | $1,081 |
| Chicago | IL | 129 mi | 2,721,326 | $80,613 | $1,486 |
| Fort Wayne | IN | 132 mi | 268,589 | $61,422 | $999 |
| Sterling Heights | MI | 136 mi | 133,573 | $79,909 | $1,292 |
| Detroit | MI | 136 mi | 645,702 | $39,209 | $1,091 |
| Warren | MI | 137 mi | 137,928 | $64,016 | $1,225 |
| Toledo | OH | 139 mi | 267,463 | $49,724 | $901 |
| Naperville | IL | 153 mi | 150,692 | $155,105 | $1,885 |
| Aurora | IL | 158 mi | 179,898 | $93,633 | $1,596 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
198,535 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,266 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 22.0% of the median household income.
$69,108 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.7% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Michigan. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.