How Much Does an MLT Make in Portland, OR in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Portland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Oregon.
BLS OES May 2025 · Portland · Vancouver · Hillsboro metro area
A typical MLT in Portland, Oregon earns $39.91 per hour, or $83,010 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,918 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $116,990.
That pay is right at the Oregon figure of $83,010 and 32% above the national figure of $62,930. Portland ranks 4th of 7 metro areas in Oregon for MLT pay. About 1,540 MLTs work in the Portland · Vancouver · Hillsboro area.
MLT pay in Portland at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.91 an hour, or $83,010 a year.
- That is right at the Oregon figure, ranking 4th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,660; the top 10% make over $116,990.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Portland?
Pay in Portland runs from entry-level positions at around $23.88 an hour to more than $56.25 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Oregon and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Portland
| Career stage | Portland | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,660$23.88 an hour | $49,260$23.68 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $62,580$30.09 an hour | $62,360$29.98 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $83,010$39.91 an hour | $83,010$39.91 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $102,150$49.11 an hour | $102,950$49.50 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $116,990$56.25 an hour | $117,640$56.56 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Portland · Vancouver · Hillsboro area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Portland
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Portland · Vancouver · Hillsboro area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Portland was $62,840 a year. By 2025 it had reached $83,010.
How Portland compares with other Oregon cities
Bend pays MLTs the most in Oregon at $90,270 a year, $7,260 more than Portland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Salem at $78,640.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Portland | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bend | $90,270 | $43.40 | +9% | 110 |
| 2 | Albany | $84,850 | $40.79 | +2% | 40 |
| 3 | Springfield metro incl. Eugene | $84,000 | $40.38 | +1% | 230 |
| 4 | Portland | $83,010 | $39.91 | this city | 1,540 |
| 5 | Medford | $81,370 | $39.12 | -2% | 160 |
| 6 | Corvallis | $81,230 | $39.05 | -2% | 100 |
| 7 | Salem | $78,640 | $37.81 | -5% | 270 |
Every metro area in Oregon with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Oregon typical pay $83,010
Is Portland a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Portland earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $83,010 a year, 32% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Portland · Vancouver · Hillsboro area, about 1.3 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.2. 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 Portland, OR?
- A typical MLT in Portland earns $83,010 a year, or $39.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $49,660 and the top 10% earn over $116,990.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Portland?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Portland is $39.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.88, and the top 10% earn over $56.25 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Portland?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Portland typically offer around $23.88 an hour, or $49,660 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Portland higher than in the rest of Oregon?
- Portland pay is right at the Oregon figure of $83,010 a year, ranking 4th of 7 metro areas in the state. Bend pays the most in Oregon at $90,270.