Careers / Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$95,480

United States, 2025

Employment

43,390

United States, 2025

Typical education

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

Job Zone 3

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

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.

O*NET code
29-2035.00
Job zone
3
Experience required
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

Typical tasks

  • 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.
  • Position patients on cradle, attaching immobilization devices, if needed, to ensure appropriate placement for imaging.
  • Take brief medical histories from patients.
  • Inspect images for quality, using magnetic resonance scanner equipment and laser camera.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$68,890
10th
$81,040
25th
$95,480
Median
$106,340
75th
$127,670
90th

10th percentile

$68,890

25th percentile

$81,040

75th percentile

$106,340

90th percentile

$127,670

Most important skills

  • Reading Comprehension3.9
  • Monitoring3.8
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Operations Monitoring3.6
  • Speaking3.6
  • Critical Thinking3.4
  • Operation and Control3.3
  • Service Orientation3.1
  • Active Learning3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
  • Writing3.1

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 17 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

17

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Reading Comprehension3.94.0Not selected4.0
Active Listening3.83.9Not selected3.9
Monitoring3.83.8Not selected3.8
Speaking3.63.9Not selected3.9
Operations Monitoring3.63.4Not selected3.4
Critical Thinking3.43.6Not selected3.6
Operation and Control3.33.1Not selected3.1
Active Learning3.13.1Not selected3.1
Social Perceptiveness3.13.1Not selected3.1
Writing3.13.1Not selected3.1
Complex Problem Solving3.13.0Not selected3.0
Systems Analysis3.03.0Not selected3.0
Coordination3.03.0Not selected3.0
Instructing3.03.0Not selected3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.03.0Not selected3.0
Service Orientation3.12.9Not selected2.9
Time Management3.02.9Not selected2.9

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
San Jose, CA$176,9502202025
Vallejo, CA$176,650302025
San Francisco, CA$146,2604202025
Sacramento, CA$144,8102202025
Seattle, WA$130,4604602025
DC$128,7101502025
Modesto, CA$126,980502025
Santa Maria, CA$125,660302025
CA$124,0003,5702025
Boston, MA$123,9101,1602025
San Diego, CA$123,0803202025
WA$122,7509602025
Bridgeport, CT$121,930802025
OR$121,9205102025
Salem, OR$121,920302025
Anchorage, AK$121,660702025
Portland, OR$120,6503302025
AK$120,6101002025
HI$119,3701402025
Urban Honolulu, HI$119,3701102025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.