SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 29-2035.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $68,890 | $5,741 | $1,325 | $33.12 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $81,040 | $6,753 | $1,558 | $38.96 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $95,480 | $7,957 | $1,836 | $45.91 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $106,340 | $8,862 | $2,045 | $51.12 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $127,670 | $10,639 | $2,455 | $61.38 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists is $95,480, which is 87% higher. Among the 71 occupations of the field Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks number 43 by median pay. With 43,390 jobs, it makes up about 2.8 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists pay by state
The highest median pay was in District of Columbia ($128,710), California ($124,000) and Washington ($122,750). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($44,810), Mississippi ($71,710) and South Dakota ($77,010). The most jobs were in California (3,570), New York (3,240) and Texas (2,930). The occupation is most concentrated in South Dakota, where its share of all jobs is 1.7 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 150 | $128,710 | $116,600 | $61.88 |
| California | 3,570 | $124,000 | $120,560 | $59.62 |
| Washington | 960 | $122,750 | $119,770 | $59.01 |
| Oregon | 510 | $121,920 | $117,610 | $58.62 |
| Alaska | 100 | $120,610 | $114,360 | $57.99 |
| Hawaii | 140 | $119,370 | $114,230 | $57.39 |
| New York | 3,240 | $113,270 | $110,030 | $54.46 |
| Massachusetts | 1,490 | $110,600 | $111,980 | $53.17 |
| Connecticut | 450 | $106,330 | $105,380 | $51.12 |
| New Hampshire | 270 | $105,420 | $98,100 | $50.68 |
| Colorado | 670 | $105,380 | $103,320 | $50.66 |
| Maryland | 770 | $105,230 | $105,540 | $50.59 |
| Rhode Island | 140 | $105,060 | $105,580 | $50.51 |
| New Jersey | 1,250 | $103,930 | $106,180 | $49.96 |
| Delaware | 170 | $103,510 | $98,790 | $49.77 |
| Vermont | 60 | $103,070 | $107,170 | $49.55 |
| Idaho | 170 | $101,680 | $101,370 | $48.88 |
| Minnesota | 710 | $100,900 | $98,200 | $48.51 |
| Arizona | 730 | $100,600 | $99,320 | $48.37 |
| Virginia | 1,070 | $98,640 | $98,310 | $47.42 |
| Nevada | 340 | $98,260 | $101,830 | $47.24 |
| Texas | 2,930 | $96,780 | $94,610 | $46.53 |
| Illinois | 2,760 | $95,380 | $93,310 | $45.86 |
| Wisconsin | 530 | $94,720 | $91,850 | $45.54 |
| Maine | 210 | $94,140 | $93,920 | $45.26 |
| Georgia | 1,800 | $92,060 | $90,930 | $44.26 |
| Wyoming | 70 | $92,010 | $89,170 | $44.24 |
| Utah | 300 | $91,150 | $96,360 | $43.82 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,250 | $91,120 | $87,080 | $43.81 |
| New Mexico | 140 | $87,850 | $88,220 | $42.24 |
| Ohio | 1,840 | $87,670 | $87,950 | $42.15 |
| Oklahoma | 400 | $87,480 | $89,130 | $42.06 |
| Montana | 150 | $86,950 | $86,900 | $41.80 |
| Indiana | 1,030 | $86,880 | $87,190 | $41.77 |
| North Carolina | 1,180 | $85,120 | $84,860 | $40.93 |
| Michigan | 1,270 | $84,620 | $84,380 | $40.68 |
| Florida | 2,860 | $84,330 | $86,110 | $40.55 |
| South Carolina | 730 | $83,550 | $82,520 | $40.17 |
| Missouri | 1,040 | $83,110 | $82,880 | $39.96 |
| Nebraska | 290 | $82,710 | $83,450 | $39.77 |
| Kansas | 330 | $82,670 | $84,050 | $39.75 |
| Kentucky | 650 | $82,200 | $84,520 | $39.52 |
| Iowa | 220 | $81,420 | $82,060 | $39.14 |
| North Dakota | 70 | $80,610 | $81,490 | $38.76 |
| West Virginia | 190 | $80,490 | $82,870 | $38.70 |
| Alabama | 490 | $78,890 | $78,280 | $37.93 |
| Arkansas | 380 | $78,780 | $78,540 | $37.88 |
| Tennessee | 1,350 | $78,610 | $78,220 | $37.79 |
| Louisiana | 510 | $77,510 | $74,770 | $37.26 |
| South Dakota | 210 | $77,010 | $77,670 | $37.03 |
| Mississippi | 250 | $71,710 | $71,340 | $34.48 |
| Puerto Rico | 100 | $44,810 | $47,180 | $21.54 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Registered Nurses$97,550 a year
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,590 a year
- Audiologists$95,780 a year
- Respiratory Therapists$82,280 a year
- Orthotists and Prosthetists$81,110 a year
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,110 a year
Common questions
How much do Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $95,480 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $68,890 and the highest-paid 10% more than $127,670.
How many people work as Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists?
About 43,390 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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