How Much Does an MLT Make in Athens, GA in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Athens, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Georgia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Athens · Clarke County metro area
A typical MLT in Athens, Georgia earns $28.98 per hour, or $60,280 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,023 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,500, and the top 10% of earners make over $102,050.
That pay is 3% below the Georgia figure of $62,180 and 4% below the national figure of $62,930. Athens ranks 7th of 14 metro areas in Georgia for MLT pay. About 370 MLTs work in the Athens · Clarke County area. Athens is part of the Athens · Clarke County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Clarke County share these figures.
MLT pay in Athens at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.98 an hour, or $60,280 a year.
- That is 3% below the Georgia figure, ranking 7th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,500; the top 10% make over $102,050.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Athens?
Pay in Athens runs from entry-level positions at around $18.03 an hour to more than $49.06 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Georgia and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Athens
| Career stage | Athens | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,500$18.03 an hour | $37,970$18.26 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $44,850$21.56 an hour | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $60,280$28.98 an hour | $62,180$29.89 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $81,730$39.29 an hour | $83,460$40.13 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $102,050$49.06 an hour | $101,020$48.57 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Athens · Clarke County area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Athens
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Athens · Clarke County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Athens was $49,110 a year. By 2025 it had reached $60,280.
How Athens compares with other Georgia cities
Richmond County pays MLTs the most in Georgia at $67,040 a year, $6,760 more than Athens. The lowest-paying area in the state is Warner Robins at $48,100.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Athens | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond County metro incl. Augusta | $67,040 | $32.23 | +11% | 570 |
| 2 | Rome | $65,840 | $31.65 | +9% | — |
| 3 | Atlanta metro incl. Sandy Springs · Roswell | $65,530 | $31.51 | +9% | 6,750 |
| 4 | Hinesville | $63,520 | $30.54 | +5% | 40 |
| 5 | Dalton | $63,040 | $30.31 | +5% | 100 |
| 6 | Savannah | $61,540 | $29.59 | +2% | 380 |
| 7 | Athens metro incl. Clarke County | $60,280 | $28.98 | this city | 370 |
| 8 | Bibb County metro incl. Macon | $60,250 | $28.97 | 0% | 300 |
| 9 | Albany | $59,370 | $28.54 | -2% | 210 |
| 10 | St. Simons metro incl. Brunswick | $58,180 | $27.97 | -3% | 150 |
| 11 | Columbus | $52,560 | $25.27 | -13% | 340 |
| 12 | Gainesville | $52,110 | $25.05 | -14% | 410 |
| 13 | Valdosta | $51,630 | $24.82 | -14% | 120 |
| 14 | Warner Robins | $48,100 | $23.12 | -20% | 90 |
Every metro area in Georgia with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia typical pay $62,180
Is Athens a good place to work as an MLT?
MLT pay in Athens sits close to the national figure: $60,280 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Athens · Clarke County area, about 3.9 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on MLTs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Athens, GA?
- A typical MLT in Athens earns $60,280 a year, or $28.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,500 and the top 10% earn over $102,050.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Athens?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Athens is $28.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.03, and the top 10% earn over $49.06 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Athens?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Athens typically offer around $18.03 an hour, or $37,500 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Athens higher than in the rest of Georgia?
- Athens pay is 3% below the Georgia figure of $62,180 a year, ranking 7th of 14 metro areas in the state. Richmond County pays the most in Georgia at $67,040.