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MRI Technologist

$95,480
median / year
$68,890 – $127,670
what most earn per year (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Operate MRI scanners to capture diagnostic images, positioning patients and following safety protocols.

You may also see this posted as: MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator), MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator), MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician), MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist), MRI Radiographer (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiographer), MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist).

Where you work

Hospitals and imaging centers

The hours

Shift work, sometimes nights and on-call

The day to day

What you'd actually spend time doing

  • Review physicians' orders to confirm prescribed exams.
  • Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos.
  • Select appropriate imaging techniques or coils to produce required images.
  • Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.
  • Provide headphones or earplugs to patients to improve comfort and reduce unpleasant noise.

Good fit if you like…

Realistic

working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world

Conventional

organizing information, following systems, and getting details right

Investigative

solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work

O*NET job zone 3 of 5

Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.

Work styles that matter most

Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessCooperation

Software that shows up in the work

Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.

eClinicalWorks EHR softwareMEDITECH softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordAppointment scheduling software

By the numbers

May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$95,480
per year
Hourly median
$45.91
per hour
What most earn
$68,890–$127,670
yearly, 10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~2,600
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+7.1%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
43,390
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

BLS estimates 4.6% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.

What it pays in your state

Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.

BLS state wage tables

How you get in

Typical starting education

Associate degree

Training path: Associate degree + certification.

Related work experience: Less than 5 years.

On-the-job training: None.

License or certification

Usually requires ARRT certification, and some states also require a license to practice.

Check the path where you live

Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.

What it takes

Technical operationPatient positioningSafety awarenessAttention to detail

The honest take

Strong pay for a two-year degree, and a natural step up for radiologic techs who want to specialize.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-2035. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.