Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
Health ScienceO*NET 29-2035.00United States
Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.
- Median annual earnings
- $97,114
- Projected change
- +9.6%
- Typical education
- Associate degree
- Employment
- 45.46K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
65.2% of the workforce
Growing to 49.82K by 2035
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The work
What magnetic resonance imaging technologists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos.
- Review physicians' orders to confirm prescribed exams.
- 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.
- Intravenously inject contrast dyes, such as gadolinium contrast, in accordance with scope of practice.
- Test magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment to ensure proper functioning and performance in accordance with specifications.
- Create backup copies of images by transferring images from disk to storage media or workstation.
- Instruct medical staff or students in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures or equipment operation.
- Explain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures to patients, patient representatives, or family members.
- Write reports or notes to summarize testing procedures or outcomes for physicians or other medical professionals.
- Comfort patients during exams, or request sedatives or other medication from physicians for patients with anxiety or claustrophobia.
- Calibrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) console or peripheral hardware.
- Troubleshoot technical issues related to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner or peripheral equipment, such as monitors or coils.
- Connect physiological leads to physiological acquisition control (PAC) units.
- Attach physiological monitoring leads to patient's finger, chest, waist, or other body parts.
- Operate optical systems to capture dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, such as functional brain imaging, real-time organ motion tracking, or musculoskeletal anatomy and trajectory visualization.
- Conduct inventories to maintain stock of clinical supplies.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $68,129
- 25th percentile
- $80,458
- 50th percentile
- $97,114
- 75th percentile
- $108,935
- 90th percentile
- $131,236
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $97,114 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+9.6%faster than average
202545,460 jobs
2035 projected49,817 jobs
4,357 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Associate degree
- 65.2%
- Bachelor's degree
- 13.1%
- Certificate
- 13%
- High school diploma or less
- 4.4%
- Some college
- 4.4%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01MRI Technologists14,635 postings
- 02Travel Computed Tomography Techs9,645 postings
- 03CT/MRI Technologists7,026 postings
- 04MRI Technicians5,776 postings
- 05Travel MRI Technicians5,729 postings
- 06Computed Tomography Technologists5,566 postings
- 07Radiology Technologists873 postings
- 08Radiology CT Technologists715 postings
- 09PET/CT Technologists599 postings
- 10Travel Radiology Technicians588 postings
- 11Lead CT Technologists562 postings
- 12Imaging MRI Techs478 postings
- 13X-Ray/CT Technologists331 postings
- 14Radiologic Technologists324 postings
- 15Lead MRI Technologists319 postings
- 16CT/Radiologic Technologists217 postings
- 17Cardiac Cath Lab Technologists202 postings
- 18Radiology Managers199 postings
- 19Diagnostic Radiologic Technologists189 postings
- 20MR Technologists159 postings
Top employers
- 01Soliant Health6,855 postings
- 02Titan Medical4,016 postings
- 03AMN Healthcare1,887 postings
- 04K&A Recruiting1,835 postings
- 05Aya Healthcare1,746 postings
- 06Medical Solutions1,458 postings
- 07Gqr939 postings
- 08Fusion Medical Staffing854 postings
- 09Accountable Healthcare Staffing779 postings
- 10Triage Staffing731 postings
- 11HCA Healthcare717 postings
- 12Medical Solutions Allied679 postings
- 13Jackson HealthPros673 postings
- 14MedPro Healthcare Staffing606 postings
- 15Sunbelt Staffing559 postings
- 16RadNet500 postings
- 17Supplemental Health Care471 postings
- 18Health Advocates Network453 postings
- 19Anders Group440 postings
- 20Ingenovis Health399 postings
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