How Much Does an MLT Make in Knoxville, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Knoxville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Knoxville metro area
A typical MLT in Knoxville, Tennessee earns $28.20 per hour, or $58,650 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,888 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,390, and the top 10% of earners make over $82,340.
That pay is 6% below the Tennessee figure of $62,070 and 7% below the national figure of $62,930. Knoxville ranks 7th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for MLT pay. About 1,320 MLTs work in the Knoxville area.
MLT pay in Knoxville at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.20 an hour, or $58,650 a year.
- That is 6% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 7th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,390; the top 10% make over $82,340.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Knoxville?
Pay in Knoxville runs from entry-level positions at around $17.98 an hour to more than $39.59 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Knoxville
| Career stage | Knoxville | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,390$17.98 an hour | $37,800$18.18 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $44,840$21.56 an hour | $46,860$22.53 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $58,650$28.20 an hour | $62,070$29.84 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $66,600$32.02 an hour | $78,720$37.84 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $82,340$39.59 an hour | $87,210$41.93 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Knoxville area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Knoxville
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Knoxville area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Knoxville was $39,130 a year. By 2025 it had reached $58,650.
How Knoxville compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays MLTs the most in Tennessee at $65,060 a year, $6,410 more than Knoxville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnson City at $51,000.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Knoxville | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $65,060 | $31.28 | +11% | 3,050 |
| 2 | Memphis | $64,000 | $30.77 | +9% | 1,830 |
| 3 | Jackson | $62,420 | $30.01 | +6% | 210 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $61,580 | $29.61 | +5% | 140 |
| 5 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $59,470 | $28.59 | +1% | 190 |
| 6 | Morristown | $59,050 | $28.39 | +1% | 60 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $58,650 | $28.20 | this city | 1,320 |
| 8 | Cleveland | $58,240 | $28.00 | -1% | 80 |
| 9 | Chattanooga | $58,070 | $27.92 | -1% | 660 |
| 10 | Johnson City | $51,000 | $24.52 | -13% | 330 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $62,070
Is Knoxville a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Knoxville earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $58,650 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Knoxville area, about 3.1 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. That makes the local economy more reliant on MLTs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Knoxville, TN?
- A typical MLT in Knoxville earns $58,650 a year, or $28.20 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,390 and the top 10% earn over $82,340.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Knoxville?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Knoxville is $28.20. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.98, and the top 10% earn over $39.59 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Knoxville?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Knoxville typically offer around $17.98 an hour, or $37,390 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Knoxville higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Knoxville pay is 6% below the Tennessee figure of $62,070 a year, ranking 7th of 10 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $65,060.