MRI Technologist salary: $73.50/hr$2,940/wk$152,880/yr median.
Pay range $51.00$2,040$106,080–$78.43/hr$3,137/wk$163,134/yr across the middle 50% of active Radiology Allied Health Professional postings nationwide.
540 unique employers · 839 cities · 52 states. Pay moved +1.1% over the last 30 days.
How MRI Technologist pay is distributed.
10% of postings pay under $43.50/hr$1,740/wk$90,480/yr. The top 10% pay above $82.81/hr$3,312/wk$172,245/yr.
How MRI Technologist pay has moved month over month.
Median pay moved from $51.50 in May 2026 to $47.00 in Oct 2026 (-8.7%). Bars show monthly posting volume; the line tracks the posting-weighted median.
| Month | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $51.50$2,060$107,120 | $44.00$1,760$91,520–$72.59$2,904$150,987 | 756 |
| Jun 2026 | $73.00$2,920$151,840 | $55.00$2,200$114,400–$77.18$3,087$160,534 | 1,957 |
| Jul 2026 | $76.94$3,078$160,035 | $73.56$2,942$153,005–$81.33$3,253$169,166 | 1,054 |
| Aug 2026 | $76.03$3,041$158,142 | $73.33$2,933$152,526–$80.65$3,226$167,752 | 1,078 |
| Sep 2026 | $47.50$1,900$98,800 | $43.00$1,720$89,440–$51.50$2,060$107,120 | 232 |
| Oct 2026 | $47.00$1,880$97,760 | $42.50$1,700$88,400–$54.00$2,160$112,320 | 234 |
MRI Technologist pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 50 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
The metros writing the biggest MRI Technologist paychecks.
| City | State | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| potsdam | NY · NEW YORK | $86.11$3,444$179,109 | $84.53$3,381$175,822–$86.11$3,444$179,109 | 10 |
| lebanon | NH · NEW HAMPSHIRE | $85.75$3,430$178,360 | $48.00$1,920$99,840–$87.50$3,500$182,000 | 16 |
| fargo | ND · NORTH DAKOTA | $84.75$3,390$176,280 | $81.64$3,266$169,811–$87.36$3,494$181,709 | 17 |
| providence | RI · RHODE ISLAND | $83.95$3,358$174,616 | $79.72$3,189$165,818–$85.70$3,428$178,256 | 38 |
| paramus | NJ · NEW JERSEY | $83.16$3,326$172,973 | $81.91$3,276$170,373–$84.55$3,382$175,864 | 12 |
CITY PAY DATA
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Where the top of the market is paying for MRI Technologist.
| Employer | Median /hr/wk/yr | Range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| alliance services, inc. | $83.00$3,320$172,640 | $79.00$3,160$164,320–$83.00$3,320$172,640 | 7 |
| cloudinfrait inc | $81.61$3,264$169,749 | $74.65$2,986$155,272–$89.61$3,584$186,389 | 16 |
| compunnel healthcare | $86.00$3,440$178,880 | $85.00$3,400$176,800–$95.00$3,800$197,600 | 5 |
| express healthcare staffing ny | $86.11$3,444$179,109 | $80.60$3,224$167,648–$95.15$3,806$197,912 | 20 |
| flexstaff | $98.58$3,943$205,046 | $98.58$3,943$205,046–$98.58$3,943$205,046 | 5 |
| grapetree medical staffing allied | $86.25$3,450$179,400 | $72.75$2,910$151,320–$86.26$3,450$179,421 | 12 |
| lucid staffing solutions | $82.23$3,289$171,038 | $72.80$2,912$151,424–$102.50$4,100$213,200 | 27 |
| prime staffing | $83.61$3,344$173,909 | $73.72$2,949$153,338–$91.50$3,660$190,320 | 30 |
| soliant health | $86.33$3,453$179,566 | $73.15$2,926$152,152–$101.25$4,050$210,600 | 8 |
| supplemental health care | $82.88$3,315$172,390 | $69.80$2,792$145,184–$87.81$3,512$182,645 | 16 |
Showing all 10 employers with live pay data.
How MRI Technologist pay shifts by schedule and contract type.
Staff Position pays the most at $80.47/hr$3,219/wk$167,378/yr median — 313% above Travel at $19.50/hr$780/wk$40,560/yr. Travel Contract drives the volume with 3,294 active postings.
How to become a MRI Technologist.
MRI Technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging equipment to create detailed images of patients' internal structures for diagnostic purposes.
Most MRI techs start as radiologic technologists (ARRT-R), gain imaging experience, then complete MRI-specific training and earn ARRT(MR) certification.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology + MRI TrainingAAS-RT + MRI | 2-3 years total | Most common pathway: radiography degree followed by MRI-specific training program. |
| Bachelor of Science in Radiologic SciencesBSRS | 4 years | Comprehensive degree with MRI concentration. Preferred for leadership roles. |
| MRI Certificate ProgramMRI Certificate | 12-18 months | Post-primary training for ARRT-registered techs to specialize in MRI. |
Most states require licensure for MRI techs. Requirements vary by state.
Primary radiography certification. Traditional pathway to MRI certification.
CPR certification required for patient care settings.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| ARRT (MR) Magnetic Resonance Imaging Certification Primary certification for MRI technologists. Can be obtained as post-primary certification or through primary pathway. | ARRT | Required for most positions |
| ARMRIT MRI Technologist Certification Alternative MRI certification for those without radiography background. Accepted in many states. | ARMRIT | Alternative certification |
| ARRT (CT) Computed Tomography Certification CT certification for dual-modality capability. MRI/CT techs command premium pay. | ARRT | +10-20% (dual modality) |
| CMRT Certified MRI Technologist Alternative certification pathway focusing specifically on MRI competencies. | ABMRS | Specialty credential |
- 0-2 yearsRadiologic Technologist (X-ray)
Foundation imaging experience before MRI specialization.
- 2-5 yearsMRI Technologist
ARRT(MR) certified tech performing routine and complex MRI examinations.
- 5-8 yearsSenior MRI Technologist
Expert-level tech handling challenging cases, training staff, and optimizing protocols.
- 8-12 yearsMRI Lead / Supervisor
Oversees MRI operations, scheduling, quality assurance, and staff coordination.
- 12+ yearsImaging Manager / Director
Management of radiology department operations. Bachelor's or master's preferred.
- 10+ yearsMRI Applications Specialist
Vendor role training facilities on MRI equipment. Excellent compensation with travel.
Schedule. Varies by setting. Outpatient typically weekday shifts. Hospitals require evening, night, and on-call coverage. MRI scans are quieter and more controlled than other imaging.
Physical demands. Moderate demands. Patient positioning, safety screening, and monitoring. MRI environment requires understanding of magnetic field hazards and screening protocols.
MRI utilization continues to grow with advancing technology. Multi-modality techs (MRI+CT) are in highest demand. Travel MRI positions pay $2,500-4,000+/week.
What clinicians ask about MRI Technologist pay.
What is the average MRI Technologist salary in 2026?
The median MRI Technologist salary is $73.50/hr (approximately $152,880/yr) based on 5,718 active job postings.
What is the pay range for MRI Technologist?
Hourly pay ranges from $51.00 at the 25th percentile to $78.43 at the 75th percentile, with the top 10% earning above $82.81/hr.
Which state pays MRI Technologist roles the most?
Rhode Island currently leads with a median of $83.95/hr across 40 postings.
How many employers are hiring MRI Technologists?
Our dataset shows 540 unique employers posting MRI Technologist roles across 52 states.
Where does TrueRounds get MRI Technologist salary data?
All salary figures are computed from active US healthcare job postings with listed pay ranges, collected over a rolling 6-month window and weighted by posting volume.
Explore other Allied Health Professional tracks.
MRI Technologist sits inside the Radiology track. Here are sibling tracks across Allied Health Professional — same category, different clinical focus and pay envelope.
Active US healthcare postings. Weighted by volume. Refreshed daily.
Pay benchmarks are computed from active job postings with listed pay ranges, collected on a rolling 6-month window. Each role's percentiles are weighted by posting volume so a metro with two postings doesn't outweigh a metro with two hundred. Outliers (postings priced more than 4× the role median) are dropped to avoid contract-line distortion.
Use the data, then push back.
Bring these numbers into your next contract conversation. Recruiters know what the market pays — now you do too.