How Much Does an MLT Make in Missoula, MT in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Missoula, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Montana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Missoula metro area
A typical MLT in Missoula, Montana earns $30.55 per hour, or $63,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,296 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,270, and the top 10% of earners make over $81,050.
That pay is 3% below the Montana figure of $65,190 and 1% above the national figure of $62,930. Missoula ranks 3rd of 5 metro areas in Montana for MLT pay. About 130 MLTs work in the Missoula area.
MLT pay in Missoula at a glance
- Typical pay is $30.55 an hour, or $63,550 a year.
- That is 3% below the Montana figure, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,270; the top 10% make over $81,050.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Missoula?
Pay in Missoula runs from entry-level positions at around $18.40 an hour to more than $38.97 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Montana and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Missoula
| Career stage | Missoula | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,270$18.40 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $39,290$18.89 an hour | $48,140$23.14 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $63,550$30.55 an hour | $65,190$31.34 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $79,260$38.11 an hour | $81,710$39.29 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $81,050$38.97 an hour | $97,070$46.67 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Missoula area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Missoula
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Missoula area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Missoula was $54,000 a year. By 2025 it had reached $63,550.
How Missoula compares with other Montana cities
Helena pays MLTs the most in Montana at $74,840 a year, $11,290 more than Missoula. The lowest-paying area in the state is Great Falls at $59,320.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Missoula | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helena | $74,840 | $35.98 | +18% | 80 |
| 2 | Billings | $68,440 | $32.90 | +8% | 190 |
| 3 | Missoula | $63,550 | $30.55 | this city | 130 |
| 4 | Bozeman | $61,200 | $29.43 | -4% | 160 |
| 5 | Great Falls | $59,320 | $28.52 | -7% | 90 |
Every metro area in Montana with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Montana typical pay $65,190
Is Missoula a good place to work as an MLT?
MLT pay in Missoula sits close to the national figure: $63,550 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Missoula area, about 1.9 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 Missoula, MT?
- A typical MLT in Missoula earns $63,550 a year, or $30.55 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,270 and the top 10% earn over $81,050.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Missoula?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Missoula is $30.55. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.40, and the top 10% earn over $38.97 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Missoula?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Missoula typically offer around $18.40 an hour, or $38,270 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Missoula higher than in the rest of Montana?
- Missoula pay is 3% below the Montana figure of $65,190 a year, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state. Helena pays the most in Montana at $74,840.