All careersHealthcare

MRI Technologist

$88,180
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

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

Where you work

Hospitals and imaging centers

The hours

Shift work, sometimes nights and on-call

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$88,180
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~2,600
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+7%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
44,100
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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Associate degree

Training path: Associate degree + certification.

License or certification

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

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, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.