How Much Does an MLT Make in Columbia, MO 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 Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical MLT in Columbia, Missouri earns $32.41 per hour, or $67,400 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,617 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,010, and the top 10% of earners make over $91,350.
That pay is 12% above the Missouri figure of $60,300 and 7% above the national figure of $62,930. Columbia ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Missouri for MLT pay. About 230 MLTs work in the Columbia area.
MLT pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $32.41 an hour, or $67,400 a year.
- That is 12% above the Missouri figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,010; the top 10% make over $91,350.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $18.75 an hour to more than $43.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,010$18.75 an hour | $37,490$18.03 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $52,630$25.30 an hour | $46,160$22.19 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $67,400$32.41 an hour | $60,300$28.99 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $88,510$42.55 an hour | $78,330$37.66 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $91,350$43.92 an hour | $91,540$44.01 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Columbia 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 $37,230 a year. By 2025 it had reached $67,400.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays MLTs the most of any metro area in Missouri. The lowest-paying area in the state is St. Joseph at $47,250.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $67,400 | $32.41 | this city | 230 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $61,830 | $29.73 | -8% | 3,960 |
| 3 | Kansas City | $59,230 | $28.48 | -12% | 2,990 |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $57,050 | $27.43 | -15% | 130 |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $51,900 | $24.95 | -23% | 190 |
| 6 | Springfield | $51,470 | $24.74 | -24% | 430 |
| 7 | Joplin | $50,690 | $24.37 | -25% | 260 |
| 8 | St. Joseph | $47,250 | $22.71 | -30% | 110 |
Every metro area in Missouri with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $60,300
Is Columbia a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Columbia earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $67,400 a year, 7% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia 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 Columbia, MO?
- A typical MLT in Columbia earns $67,400 a year, or $32.41 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,010 and the top 10% earn over $91,350.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Columbia is $32.41. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.75, and the top 10% earn over $43.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Columbia?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Columbia typically offer around $18.75 an hour, or $39,010 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 12% above the Missouri figure of $60,300 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.