How Much Does an MLT Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical MLT in Bristol, Tennessee earns $28.59 per hour, or $59,470 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,956 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,580, and the top 10% of earners make over $79,000.
That pay is 4% below the Tennessee figure of $62,070 and 5% below the national figure of $62,930. Bristol ranks 5th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for MLT pay. About 190 MLTs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
MLT pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.59 an hour, or $59,470 a year.
- That is 4% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,580; the top 10% make over $79,000.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $18.07 an hour to more than $37.98 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,580$18.07 an hour | $37,800$18.18 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $44,200$21.25 an hour | $46,860$22.53 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $59,470$28.59 an hour | $62,070$29.84 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $65,960$31.71 an hour | $78,720$37.84 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $79,000$37.98 an hour | $87,210$41.93 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays MLTs the most in Tennessee at $65,060 a year, $5,590 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnson City at $51,000.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $65,060 | $31.28 | +9% | 3,050 |
| 2 | Memphis | $64,000 | $30.77 | +8% | 1,830 |
| 3 | Jackson | $62,420 | $30.01 | +5% | 210 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $61,580 | $29.61 | +4% | 140 |
| 5 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $59,470 | $28.59 | this city | 190 |
| 6 | Morristown | $59,050 | $28.39 | -1% | 60 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $58,650 | $28.20 | -1% | 1,320 |
| 8 | Cleveland | $58,240 | $28.00 | -2% | 80 |
| 9 | Chattanooga | $58,070 | $27.92 | -2% | 660 |
| 10 | Johnson City | $51,000 | $24.52 | -14% | 330 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $62,070
Is Bristol a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $59,470 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 1.6 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. 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 Bristol, TN?
- A typical MLT in Bristol earns $59,470 a year, or $28.59 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,580 and the top 10% earn over $79,000.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Bristol is $28.59. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.07, and the top 10% earn over $37.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Bristol?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Bristol typically offer around $18.07 an hour, or $37,580 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 4% below the Tennessee figure of $62,070 a year, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $65,060.