How to Become a MRI Technologist
Operate MRI scanners and manage patient safety around powerful magnets to capture the images radiologists read. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $95,480 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$95,480/yr
Middle half
$81,040 to $106,340
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
2,600
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- MRI Operation
- Patient Screening
- Imaging Protocols
- Monitoring
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- ARRT(MR) certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
67/100
Stress level
69/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a MRI Technologist make?
The median pay for a MRI Technologist is $95,480 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $81,040 and $106,340 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a MRI Technologist?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Radiologic Sciences and Health Sciences.
Is MRI Technologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 2,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a MRI Technologist use most?
Common skills for this role are MRI Operation, Patient Screening, Imaging Protocols, Monitoring, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).