How Much Does an MLT Make in Tacoma, WA in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Tacoma, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Washington.
BLS OES May 2025 · Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue metro area
A typical MLT in Tacoma, Washington earns $37.58 per hour, or $78,170 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,514 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,180, and the top 10% of earners make over $123,660.
That pay is 7% above the Washington figure of $72,760 and 24% above the national figure of $62,930. Tacoma ranks 2nd of 10 metro areas in Washington for MLT pay. About 4,610 MLTs work in the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area. Tacoma is part of the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Seattle and Bellevue share these figures.
MLT pay in Tacoma at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.58 an hour, or $78,170 a year.
- That is 7% above the Washington figure, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,180; the top 10% make over $123,660.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Tacoma?
Pay in Tacoma runs from entry-level positions at around $23.65 an hour to more than $59.45 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Washington and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Tacoma
| Career stage | Tacoma | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,180$23.65 an hour | $46,780$22.49 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $61,520$29.58 an hour | $56,160$27.00 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $78,170$37.58 an hour | $72,760$34.98 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $101,940$49.01 an hour | $97,590$46.92 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $123,660$59.45 an hour | $112,020$53.85 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Tacoma
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Tacoma was $54,940 a year. By 2025 it had reached $78,170.
How Tacoma compares with other Washington cities
Hillsboro pays MLTs the most in Washington at $83,010 a year, $4,840 more than Tacoma. The lowest-paying area in the state is Spokane at $58,490.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Tacoma | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillsboro metro incl. Vancouver | $83,010 | $39.91 | +6% | 1,540 |
| 2 | Tacoma | $78,170 | $37.58 | this city | 4,610 |
| 3 | Walla Walla | $70,260 | $33.78 | -10% | 50 |
| 4 | Anacortes metro incl. Mount Vernon | $63,220 | $30.39 | -19% | 110 |
| 5 | Yakima | $61,850 | $29.74 | -21% | 140 |
| 6 | Bellingham | $60,470 | $29.07 | -23% | 160 |
| 7 | Kennewick metro incl. Richland | $60,150 | $28.92 | -23% | 250 |
| 8 | Lacey | $59,930 | $28.81 | -23% | 180 |
| 9 | Bremerton metro incl. Port Orchard · Silverdale | $59,890 | $28.79 | -23% | 80 |
| 10 | Spokane Valley metro incl. Spokane | $58,490 | $28.12 | -25% | 820 |
Every metro area in Washington with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Washington typical pay $72,760
Is Tacoma a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Tacoma earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $78,170 a year, 24% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area, about 2.2 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 Tacoma, WA?
- A typical MLT in Tacoma earns $78,170 a year, or $37.58 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $49,180 and the top 10% earn over $123,660.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Tacoma?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Tacoma is $37.58. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.65, and the top 10% earn over $59.45 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Tacoma?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Tacoma typically offer around $23.65 an hour, or $49,180 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Tacoma higher than in the rest of Washington?
- Tacoma pay is 7% above the Washington figure of $72,760 a year, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state. Hillsboro pays the most in Washington at $83,010.