How Much Does an MLT Make in Grand Rapids, MI in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Grand Rapids, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Michigan.
BLS OES May 2025 · Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood metro area
A typical MLT in Grand Rapids, Michigan earns $24.03 per hour, or $49,980 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,165 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,100, and the top 10% of earners make over $81,720.
That pay is 18% below the Michigan figure of $61,260 and 21% below the national figure of $62,930. Grand Rapids ranks 11th of 12 metro areas in Michigan for MLT pay. About 1,170 MLTs work in the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area. Grand Rapids is part of the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kentwood and Wyoming share these figures.
MLT pay in Grand Rapids at a glance
- Typical pay is $24.03 an hour, or $49,980 a year.
- That is 18% below the Michigan figure, ranking 11th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,100; the top 10% make over $81,720.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Grand Rapids?
Pay in Grand Rapids runs from entry-level positions at around $18.32 an hour to more than $39.29 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Michigan and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Grand Rapids
| Career stage | Grand Rapids | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,100$18.32 an hour | $37,560$18.06 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $38,190$18.36 an hour | $41,630$20.02 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $49,980$24.03 an hour | $61,260$29.45 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,020$37.51 an hour | $79,400$38.17 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $81,720$39.29 an hour | $91,280$43.89 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Grand Rapids
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Grand Rapids was $40,490 a year. By 2025 it had reached $49,980.
How Grand Rapids compares with other Michigan cities
Battle Creek pays MLTs the most in Michigan at $80,450 a year, $30,470 more than Grand Rapids. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $37,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Grand Rapids | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $80,450 | $38.68 | +61% | 70 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $79,400 | $38.17 | +59% | 1,030 |
| 3 | Saginaw | $69,090 | $33.22 | +38% | 180 |
| 4 | Traverse City | $68,060 | $32.72 | +36% | 120 |
| 5 | Lansing metro incl. East Lansing | $63,960 | $30.75 | +28% | 440 |
| 6 | Kalamazoo metro incl. Portage | $62,190 | $29.90 | +24% | 260 |
| 7 | Flint | $62,040 | $29.83 | +24% | 240 |
| 8 | Warren | $58,910 | $28.32 | +18% | 4,570 |
| 9 | Monroe | $54,290 | $26.10 | +9% | 70 |
| 10 | Mishawaka | $53,130 | $25.54 | +6% | 230 |
| 11 | Grand Rapids | $49,980 | $24.03 | this city | 1,170 |
| 12 | Jackson | $37,940 | $18.24 | -24% | 110 |
Every metro area in Michigan with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Michigan typical pay $61,260
Is Grand Rapids a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Grand Rapids earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $49,980 a year, 21% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area, about 2.0 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. MLT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Grand Rapids, MI?
- A typical MLT in Grand Rapids earns $49,980 a year, or $24.03 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,100 and the top 10% earn over $81,720.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Grand Rapids?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Grand Rapids is $24.03. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.32, and the top 10% earn over $39.29 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Grand Rapids?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Grand Rapids typically offer around $18.32 an hour, or $38,100 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Grand Rapids higher than in the rest of Michigan?
- Grand Rapids pay is 18% below the Michigan figure of $61,260 a year, ranking 11th of 12 metro areas in the state. Battle Creek pays the most in Michigan at $80,450.