How Much Does an MLT Make in Montana in 2026?

A typical MLT in Montana earns about $31.34 per hour ($65,190 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That yearly total breaks down to roughly $5,432 per month or $1,254 per week, calculated from the annual figure. These figures reflect regular full-time schedules in clinical laboratories across the state. They give job seekers a reliable baseline for statewide earnings.

Statewide earnings sit 4 percent higher than the national typical pay of $62,930 per year, or $30.26 hourly. That difference places Montana at rank 19 among 51 ranked states and territories. Montana employs an estimated 1,020 medical laboratory technicians statewide. This dedicated workforce maintains vital diagnostic testing in both community facilities and regional health centers.

Entry-level positions in Montana typically offer around $18.71 per hour, which equals $38,910 annually for newcomers. Early-career technicians in their starting roles often earn close to $23.14 per hour, or $48,140 each year. Within a few years of routine bench testing, pay generally moves toward the statewide typical rate of $31.34 hourly. Skill development and technical familiarity help technicians advance beyond initial starting wages.

Experienced technicians often earn upwards of $39.29 per hour, which equals $81,710 per year. The top 10% of earners make over $46.67 per hour, or $97,070 annually. This creates an entry-to-top spread of $58,160 across the state. Differences in practice setting, years of bench experience, and local facility location tend to separate these earning brackets.

Montana recorded a starting figure of $54,650 per year in 2017. Pay rose steadily over the years to reach $65,190 in 2025. That trajectory represents a dollar gain of $10,540 over the multi-year tracking period. In total, typical technician wages saw a 19 percent rise across the state during this timeframe.

By comparison, the national decade rise reached 22 percent over the same period. While Montana lagged slightly behind the countrywide pace, local wages still experienced measurable overall progress. For someone starting a career in a medical laboratory today, pay has moved up steadily over time. Past wage growth reflects historic trends rather than guaranteed future increases.

Helena offers the highest compensation for medical laboratory technicians in Montana. Typical earnings in the Helena metropolitan area reach $74,840 per year, or $35.98 per hour. All reported city figures cover each city's full metropolitan area. This leading rate sits 15 percent above the statewide typical pay. Other major communities follow, with Missoula reporting $63,550 annually and Bozeman recording $61,200.

Great Falls reports the lowest typical pay at $59,320 annually, or $28.52 hourly. That establishes a city spread of $15,520 between the highest and lowest paying markets. Meanwhile, Billings employs the largest technician workforce with 190 positions and typical pay of $68,440. Local housing and everyday living expenses often align with these wage differences across regional urban centers.

Montana technician wages closely mirror Wyoming, where typical annual earnings sit at $65,510. Looking east, North Dakota reports $62,680 and South Dakota records $60,890, trailing Montana by 4 percent and 7 percent respectively. To the west, Idaho shows the sharpest regional gap with typical pay of $47,450 per year, trailing Montana by 27 percent. Professional licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.

Medical laboratory technicians in Montana currently earn typical pay of $65,190 per year, supported by a steady 19 percent wage gain over the past decade. Technicians exploring laboratory careers can consult the state licensing or registry page to review official credentialing requirements. Reviewing dedicated city pages can help candidates compare specific hospital wages and cost differences across local job markets.