How Much Does an MLT Make in Columbia, MD in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Maryland.
BLS OES May 2025 · Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area
A typical MLT in Columbia, Maryland earns $27.85 per hour, or $57,930 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,828 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,350, and the top 10% of earners make over $95,340.
That pay is 9% below the Maryland figure of $63,690 and 8% below the national figure of $62,930. Columbia ranks 3rd of 4 metro areas in Maryland for MLT pay. About 3,970 MLTs work in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area. Columbia is part of the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Towson and Baltimore share these figures.
MLT pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $27.85 an hour, or $57,930 a year.
- That is 9% below the Maryland figure, ranking 3rd of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,350; the top 10% make over $95,340.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $16.04 an hour to more than $45.84 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maryland and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,350$16.04 an hour | $34,760$16.71 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $39,580$19.03 an hour | $47,830$22.99 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $57,930$27.85 an hour | $63,690$30.62 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $82,130$39.48 an hour | $84,500$40.62 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $95,340$45.84 an hour | $98,260$47.24 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Columbia was $48,670 a year. By 2025 it had reached $57,930.
How Columbia compares with other Maryland cities
Lexington Park pays MLTs the most in Maryland at $72,640 a year, $14,710 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Martinsburg at $52,720.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington Park | $72,640 | $34.93 | +25% | 80 |
| 2 | Alexandria | $70,300 | $33.80 | +21% | 5,680 |
| 3 | Columbia | $57,930 | $27.85 | this city | 3,970 |
| 4 | Hagerstown metro incl. Martinsburg | $52,720 | $25.35 | -9% | 170 |
Every metro area in Maryland with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maryland typical pay $63,690
Is Columbia a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $57,930 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area, about 2.9 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. 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 Columbia, MD?
- A typical MLT in Columbia earns $57,930 a year, or $27.85 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,350 and the top 10% earn over $95,340.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Columbia is $27.85. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.04, and the top 10% earn over $45.84 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Columbia?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Columbia typically offer around $16.04 an hour, or $33,350 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Maryland?
- Columbia pay is 9% below the Maryland figure of $63,690 a year, ranking 3rd of 4 metro areas in the state. Lexington Park pays the most in Maryland at $72,640.