How Much Does an MLT Make in New York in 2026?

A typical MLT in New York earns about $46.77 per hour ($97,280 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down across regular pay schedules, that annual sum translates to roughly $8,107 per month or $1,871 per week as calculated from the yearly total. These earnings represent full-time laboratory technicians working across hospitals, outpatient diagnostic centers, and regional clinics.

Nationwide, medical laboratory technicians earn a typical annual wage of $62,930, or $30.26 per hour. New York wages run 55 percent above that national rate, placing the state at rank 1 among all 51 states and territories. The state supports a large professional community of 16,460 working technicians out of the 332,940 employed across the country.

Entry-level positions in New York typically offer around $24.07 per hour, which works out to $50,060 per year. Technicians in their initial years often see pay advance toward $31.68 hourly, or $65,890 annually, as they develop bench skills. Within several years of consistent clinical practice, compensation generally approaches the statewide typical rate of $97,280.

Experienced technicians frequently earn upwards of $58.13 per hour, or $120,900 annually, once they take on complex testing or supervisory duties. The top 10% of earners make over $63.72 per hour, equaling more than $132,530 per year. This creates an entry-to-top spread of $82,470, shaped primarily by practice setting, years on the bench, and regional location.

Between 2017 and 2025, typical compensation for New York medical laboratory technicians grew from $61,530 to $97,280. That trajectory reflects an overall dollar gain of $35,750 over the eight-year tracking cycle. Across this period, compensation expanded by 58 percent, marking consistent upward adjustments across health facilities.

By comparison, laboratory technician wages across the country rose by 22 percent during the same broader timeframe. New York's 58 percent gain moved at more than double that national pace. For someone entering the field today, wage history shows that baseline pay has climbed substantially, though past increases provide no guarantee of future adjustments.

Geographic location inside the state creates notable differences in compensation, with figures covering each city's full metropolitan area. Kingston reports the highest rate at $103,180 annually ($49.61 per hour), which sits 6 percent above the statewide benchmark. Binghamton follows closely behind with an annual wage of $102,040, while Poughkeepsie records $98,290.

At the bottom of the spectrum, Cheektowaga records the lowest pay at $78,050 annually ($37.53 per hour), resulting in a metropolitan wage spread of $25,130 across the state. The New York City metro area employs the vast majority of the workforce with 16,220 technicians earning $96,930. These geographic variations largely reflect differences in local living expenses between upstate regions and the greater metropolitan center.

New York pays higher wages than every bordering state. Nearby Massachusetts leads bordering states with an annual wage of $79,120 (19 percent lower than New York), followed by Vermont at $78,680, New Jersey at $68,450, and Connecticut at $65,310. Pennsylvania offers the lowest regional rate at $51,680, trailing New York by 47 percent. In practice, professional licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.

With typical annual pay standing at $97,280, New York offers the highest compensation in the country for clinical laboratory technicians. The occupation has expanded by 58 percent over the past decade, reflecting sustained upward momentum across regional healthcare employers. Those planning a laboratory career should consult the state licensing page to review mandatory credentialing standards. Reviewing individual city pages provides deeper insight into local compensation across specific metropolitan job markets.