How Much Does an MLT Make in Tennessee in 2026?

A typical MLT in Tennessee earns about $29.84 per hour ($62,070 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). When calculated from the annual figure, this works out to roughly $5,172 per month or $1,194 per week for a full-time professional. These baseline earnings reflect steady healthcare compensation across clinical laboratories throughout the state.

Statewide pay sits 1% below the national benchmark of $62,930, which breaks down to $30.26 hourly. Tennessee ranks 25 among all 51 states and territories for laboratory technician earnings. This slightly lower rate generally aligns with the state's affordable cost of living. A substantial workforce of 8,410 professionals supports diagnostic testing across hospitals and reference centers statewide.

Entry-level positions in Tennessee typically offer around $18.18 per hour, which translates to an annual wage of $37,800. Early-career technicians building initial skills frequently start between that rate and $22.53 hourly, or $46,860 per year. With a few years of routine bench experience, earnings move steadily toward the statewide typical pay of $29.84 per hour.

Experienced technicians often earn upwards of $37.84 hourly, or $78,720 annually, as they assume specialized bench responsibilities. The top 10% of earners statewide make over $41.93 per hour, bringing in more than $87,210 each year. This creates an entry-to-top spread of $49,410 across the state. Clinical setting, geographic city, and years of laboratory experience separate these earning tiers.

Between 2017 and 2025, typical annual pay for medical laboratory technicians in Tennessee rose from $47,180 to $62,070. That progression represents a total dollar gain of $14,890 across recorded survey years. Compensation moved upward across most recording cycles as healthcare employers responded to staffing requirements.

Nationally, earnings across the occupational field posted a 22% rise over the decade. Tennessee wages tracked close to that broader national pattern through solid ongoing gains in local hospital networks. For an applicant entering the field now, previous records show that earnings have climbed over time, though past trends do not guarantee future wages.

Pay reaches its peak in the Nashville metropolitan area, where technicians earn a typical annual salary of $65,060, or $31.28 per hour. This leading figure sits 5% above the statewide typical pay. Nearby Memphis also reports higher compensation with a typical wage of $64,000 annually ($30.77 hourly). All municipal wage figures reflect full metropolitan areas rather than strict city borders.

At the other end of the range, Johnson City reports the lowest typical pay at $51,000 per year ($24.52 hourly). This creates a geographic spread of $14,060 between the highest and lowest paying markets in Tennessee. Nashville supports the largest workforce with 3,050 employed technicians. Lower compensation in smaller regions typically reflects a lower local cost of living.

Tennessee compensation aligns closely with several border states while substantially outperforming others. Georgia offers slightly higher earnings at $62,180 annually, whereas Virginia reports $61,050 and Kentucky pays $60,880. Meanwhile, Tennessee pays noticeably higher rates than southern neighbors, including Mississippi at $50,640 and Alabama at $49,440 per year. Professional licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby jurisdiction through standard credential reciprocity procedures.

Medical laboratory technicians in Tennessee earn a typical salary of $62,070 per year, supported by an overall gain of $14,890 since 2017 alongside a 22% national decade rise. Those planning a laboratory career should visit the state licensing board registry page to review mandatory credentialing requirements. Additionally, reviewing dedicated city pages provides detailed local figures for specific metropolitan job markets.