How Much Does an MLT Make in Kansas in 2026?

A typical MLT in Kansas earns about $29.83 per hour ($62,050 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That total translates to roughly $5,171 per month or $1,193 per week when calculated from the annual figure. These baseline earnings provide steady compensation across standard diagnostic hospital shifts and private clinic laboratories throughout the state.

Across the country, typical pay sits at $62,930 annually, putting Kansas roughly 1% below the national baseline. This positions the state 26th overall among 51 ranked states and jurisdictions. Kansas supports a community of 3,930 employed technicians working in diagnostic facilities, reflecting a balanced healthcare workforce relative to neighboring regions.

Entry-level positions in Kansas typically offer around $18.51 per hour, which equals approximately $38,490 per year for technicians just starting out. Within a few years of clinical practice, wages routinely move toward the mid-tier rate of $22.44 per hour or $46,680 annually. Developing familiarity with routine diagnostic equipment helps newer workers transition steadily toward typical state earnings.

Experienced technicians often earn upwards of $37.66 per hour or $78,330 annually, while the top 10% of earners make over $45.57 per hour ($94,780 annually). This establishes an overall spread of $56,290 between entry wages and senior compensation. The difference usually reflects years in the laboratory, advanced instrumentation skills, practice setting, and whether the facility sits in a larger metropolitan area.

The state record shows that Kansas technicians earned $45,190 annually in 2017. By 2025, that benchmark reached $62,050, reflecting an increase of $16,860 over the decade period. This shift represents a 37% rise in typical earnings. Most of that growth occurred in the latter half of the decade as hospital networks adjusted regional pay structures.

Over that same timeframe, the national decade rise was 22%, meaning Kansas expanded laboratory pay at a faster pace than the country overall. For someone entering the field today, this historical upward pattern demonstrates that compensation has strengthened over time. Past wage increases do not guarantee future trajectory, but the baseline reflects solid local investment in clinical staff.

Pay runs highest in the Lawrence metropolitan area, where technicians earn $76,520 per year ($36.79 per hour). That figure sits 23% above the state typical pay, representing the highest concentration of premium lab wages in Kansas. Nearby Manhattan also delivers competitive wages at $64,260 annually ($30.89 per hour), providing solid compensation in university hospital and community health settings.

Topeka records the lowest reported earnings at $64,230 annually ($30.88 per hour), creating a city spread of $12,290 across Kansas. Meanwhile, Wichita employs the largest workforce with 810 technicians earning a typical $67,980 per year ($32.68 per hour). All reported municipal figures cover each city's full metropolitan area. Areas with lower nominal pay usually correspond with lower local living costs.

Regional compensation varies significantly across state borders. To the west, Colorado offers the highest regional earnings at $70,050 per year, paying 13% more than Kansas. Conversely, neighboring states to the north and east trail slightly, with Nebraska at $60,540 and Missouri at $60,300. Oklahoma sits the lowest among neighbors at $53,300, which is 14% below Kansas rates. Professional credentials and licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.

Medical laboratory technicians in Kansas earn a typical wage of $62,050 per year, backed by a solid 37% gain across the preceding decade. Career seekers planning a laboratory path can consult the state licensing or registry page for mandatory credentialing requirements. Reviewing individual city pages provides detailed insight into local payroll figures and employment options throughout Kansas.