How Much Does an MLT Make in Columbia, SC 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 South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical MLT in Columbia, South Carolina earns $26.58 per hour, or $55,280 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,607 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,460, and the top 10% of earners make over $80,670.
That pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $55,280 and 12% below the national figure of $62,930. Columbia ranks 7th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for MLT pay. About 810 MLTs work in the Columbia area.
MLT pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $26.58 an hour, or $55,280 a year.
- That is right at the South Carolina figure, ranking 7th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,460; the top 10% make over $80,670.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $18.49 an hour to more than $38.78 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,460$18.49 an hour | $36,420$17.51 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $45,850$22.04 an hour | $44,140$21.22 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $55,280$26.58 an hour | $55,280$26.58 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $68,440$32.91 an hour | $72,750$34.97 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $80,670$38.78 an hour | $81,930$39.39 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 $47,100 a year. By 2025 it had reached $55,280.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Richmond County pays MLTs the most in South Carolina at $67,040 a year, $11,760 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hilton Head Island at $49,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond County | $67,040 | $32.23 | +21% | 570 |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $64,490 | $31.01 | +17% | 310 |
| 3 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $62,360 | $29.98 | +13% | 2,020 |
| 4 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Myrtle Beach · Conway | $60,590 | $29.13 | +10% | 250 |
| 5 | Sumter | $60,380 | $29.03 | +9% | 30 |
| 6 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $58,050 | $27.91 | +5% | 830 |
| 7 | Columbia | $55,280 | $26.58 | this city | 810 |
| 8 | Anderson metro incl. Greer · Greenville | $53,070 | $25.52 | -4% | 990 |
| 9 | Florence | $50,970 | $24.50 | -8% | 300 |
| 10 | Port Royal metro incl. Bluffton · Hilton Head Island | $49,730 | $23.91 | -10% | 100 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $55,280
Is Columbia a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $55,280 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 2.1 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. 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, SC?
- A typical MLT in Columbia earns $55,280 a year, or $26.58 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,460 and the top 10% earn over $80,670.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Columbia is $26.58. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.49, and the top 10% earn over $38.78 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Columbia?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Columbia typically offer around $18.49 an hour, or $38,460 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $55,280 a year, ranking 7th of 10 metro areas in the state. Richmond County pays the most in South Carolina at $67,040.