How Much Does an MLT Make in Portage, MI in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Portage, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Michigan.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kalamazoo · Portage metro area
A typical MLT in Portage, Michigan earns $29.90 per hour, or $62,190 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,183 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,210, and the top 10% of earners make over $98,050.
That pay is 2% above the Michigan figure of $61,260 and 1% below the national figure of $62,930. Portage ranks 6th of 12 metro areas in Michigan for MLT pay. About 260 MLTs work in the Kalamazoo · Portage area. Portage is part of the Kalamazoo · Portage metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kalamazoo share these figures.
MLT pay in Portage at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.90 an hour, or $62,190 a year.
- That is 2% above the Michigan figure, ranking 6th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,210; the top 10% make over $98,050.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Portage?
Pay in Portage runs from entry-level positions at around $16.93 an hour to more than $47.14 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Michigan and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Portage
| Career stage | Portage | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,210$16.93 an hour | $37,560$18.06 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $42,910$20.63 an hour | $41,630$20.02 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $62,190$29.90 an hour | $61,260$29.45 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $76,020$36.55 an hour | $79,400$38.17 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $98,050$47.14 an hour | $91,280$43.89 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kalamazoo · Portage area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Portage
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Kalamazoo · Portage area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Portage was $48,600 a year. By 2025 it had reached $62,190.
How Portage compares with other Michigan cities
Battle Creek pays MLTs the most in Michigan at $80,450 a year, $18,260 more than Portage. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $37,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Portage | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $80,450 | $38.68 | +29% | 70 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $79,400 | $38.17 | +28% | 1,030 |
| 3 | Saginaw | $69,090 | $33.22 | +11% | 180 |
| 4 | Traverse City | $68,060 | $32.72 | +9% | 120 |
| 5 | Lansing metro incl. East Lansing | $63,960 | $30.75 | +3% | 440 |
| 6 | Portage metro incl. Kalamazoo | $62,190 | $29.90 | this city | 260 |
| 7 | Flint | $62,040 | $29.83 | 0% | 240 |
| 8 | Warren | $58,910 | $28.32 | -5% | 4,570 |
| 9 | Monroe | $54,290 | $26.10 | -13% | 70 |
| 10 | Mishawaka | $53,130 | $25.54 | -15% | 230 |
| 11 | Kentwood metro incl. Wyoming · Grand Rapids | $49,980 | $24.03 | -20% | 1,170 |
| 12 | Jackson | $37,940 | $18.24 | -39% | 110 |
Every metro area in Michigan with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Michigan typical pay $61,260
Is Portage a good place to work as an MLT?
MLT pay in Portage sits close to the national figure: $62,190 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kalamazoo · Portage area, about 2.1 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.2. 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 Portage, MI?
- A typical MLT in Portage earns $62,190 a year, or $29.90 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,210 and the top 10% earn over $98,050.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Portage?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Portage is $29.90. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.93, and the top 10% earn over $47.14 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Portage?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Portage typically offer around $16.93 an hour, or $35,210 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Portage higher than in the rest of Michigan?
- Portage pay is 2% above the Michigan figure of $61,260 a year, ranking 6th of 12 metro areas in the state. Battle Creek pays the most in Michigan at $80,450.