Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists: salary, outlook & degrees
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.
Middle half $81,040–$106,340. 43,390 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
60% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $75,562.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 2,300 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Medium preparation.
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Technologies Technicians | 17% | Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) · Medical Laboratory Science |
| Nursing | 7% | Nursing |
| Biology | 6% | Biology |
| Nuclear, Industrial Radiology, And Biological Technologies | 6% | — |
| Psychology | 5% | Psychology |
| Business Management And Administration | 5% | Business Administration |
| Multi-Disciplinary Or General Science | 5% | Biological and Physical Sciences |
| Communications | 3% | Communications · Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other |
| Physical Fitness Parks Recreation And Leisure | 3% | Kinesiology / Exercise Science · Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies |
| Liberal Arts | 3% | Liberal Arts / General Studies |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $128,710 |
| California | $124,000 |
| Washington | $122,750 |
| Oregon | $121,920 |
| Alaska | $120,610 |
| Hawaii | $119,370 |
| New York | $113,270 |
| Massachusetts | $110,600 |
| Connecticut | $106,330 |
| New Hampshire | $105,420 |
| Colorado | $105,380 |
| Maryland | $105,230 |
| Rhode Island | $105,060 |
| New Jersey | $103,930 |
| Delaware | $103,510 |
| Vermont | $103,070 |
| Idaho | $101,680 |
| Minnesota | $100,900 |
| Arizona | $100,600 |
| Virginia | $98,640 |
| Nevada | $98,260 |
| Texas | $96,780 |
| Illinois | $95,380 |
| Wisconsin | $94,720 |
| Maine | $94,140 |
| Georgia | $92,060 |
| Wyoming | $92,010 |
| Utah | $91,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,120 |
| New Mexico | $87,850 |
| Ohio | $87,670 |
| Oklahoma | $87,480 |
| Montana | $86,950 |
| Indiana | $86,880 |
| North Carolina | $85,120 |
| Michigan | $84,620 |
| Florida | $84,330 |
| South Carolina | $83,550 |
| Missouri | $83,110 |
| Nebraska | $82,710 |
| Kansas | $82,670 |
| Kentucky | $82,200 |
| Iowa | $81,420 |
| North Dakota | $80,610 |
| West Virginia | $80,490 |
| Alabama | $78,890 |
| Arkansas | $78,780 |
| Tennessee | $78,610 |
| Louisiana | $77,510 |
| South Dakota | $77,010 |
| Mississippi | $71,710 |
| PR | $44,810 |
Florida metro areas
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$91,170
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$82,690
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$83,980
- Jacksonville$83,170
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers$94,420
- Naples-Marco Island$91,270
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville$82,920
- Lakeland-Winter Haven$85,530
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$109,110
- Richmond$98,680
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$95,950
- Kingsport-Bristol$74,910
- Winchester$82,900
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$109,800
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$146,260
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$106,010
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$123,080
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$144,810
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$176,950
- Fresno$106,710
- Bakersfield-Delano$98,550
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge used
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Physics
- Computers and Electronics
- Medicine and Dentistry
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Empathy
People in this job tend to have Realistic (hands-on), Conventional (organizing), Investigative (analytical) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists: questions
How much do magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists make?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists earn a U.S. median $95,480 a year; the middle half earn $81,040 to $106,340 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $72,618 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,300 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist?
BLS lists the typical entry education as associate's degree. In O*NET's survey, 13% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is medical Technologies Technicians (17%).
How much do magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $84,330 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $95,480 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 29-2035. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
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