How Much Does an MLT Make in Traverse City, MI in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Traverse City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Michigan.
BLS OES May 2025 · Traverse City metro area
A typical MLT in Traverse City, Michigan earns $32.72 per hour, or $68,060 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,672 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,380, and the top 10% of earners make over $81,850.
That pay is 11% above the Michigan figure of $61,260 and 8% above the national figure of $62,930. Traverse City ranks 4th of 12 metro areas in Michigan for MLT pay. About 120 MLTs work in the Traverse City area.
MLT pay in Traverse City at a glance
- Typical pay is $32.72 an hour, or $68,060 a year.
- That is 11% above the Michigan figure, ranking 4th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,380; the top 10% make over $81,850.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Traverse City?
Pay in Traverse City runs from entry-level positions at around $19.89 an hour to more than $39.35 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Michigan and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Traverse City
| Career stage | Traverse City | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $41,380$19.89 an hour | $37,560$18.06 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $41,380$19.89 an hour | $41,630$20.02 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $68,060$32.72 an hour | $61,260$29.45 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $81,630$39.25 an hour | $79,400$38.17 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $81,850$39.35 an hour | $91,280$43.89 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Traverse City area as BLS defines it
How Traverse City compares with other Michigan cities
Battle Creek pays MLTs the most in Michigan at $80,450 a year, $12,390 more than Traverse City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $37,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Traverse City | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $80,450 | $38.68 | +18% | 70 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $79,400 | $38.17 | +17% | 1,030 |
| 3 | Saginaw | $69,090 | $33.22 | +2% | 180 |
| 4 | Traverse City | $68,060 | $32.72 | this city | 120 |
| 5 | Lansing metro incl. East Lansing | $63,960 | $30.75 | -6% | 440 |
| 6 | Kalamazoo metro incl. Portage | $62,190 | $29.90 | -9% | 260 |
| 7 | Flint | $62,040 | $29.83 | -9% | 240 |
| 8 | Warren | $58,910 | $28.32 | -13% | 4,570 |
| 9 | Monroe | $54,290 | $26.10 | -20% | 70 |
| 10 | Mishawaka | $53,130 | $25.54 | -22% | 230 |
| 11 | Kentwood metro incl. Wyoming · Grand Rapids | $49,980 | $24.03 | -27% | 1,170 |
| 12 | Jackson | $37,940 | $18.24 | -44% | 110 |
Every metro area in Michigan with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Michigan typical pay $61,260
Is Traverse City a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Traverse City earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $68,060 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Traverse City area, about 1.8 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. That makes MLTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Traverse City, MI?
- A typical MLT in Traverse City earns $68,060 a year, or $32.72 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $41,380 and the top 10% earn over $81,850.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Traverse City?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Traverse City is $32.72. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.89, and the top 10% earn over $39.35 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Traverse City?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Traverse City typically offer around $19.89 an hour, or $41,380 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Traverse City higher than in the rest of Michigan?
- Traverse City pay is 11% above the Michigan figure of $61,260 a year, ranking 4th of 12 metro areas in the state. Battle Creek pays the most in Michigan at $80,450.