Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
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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.
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Titles for this career often contain these words
TechnologistImagingMagneticResonanceMRICoordinatorChiefQualityAssuranceSpecialProceduresSpecialistStaffComputedTomographyCT
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Responsibilities and activities

Radiologic and MRI technologists typically do the following:

  • Adjust and maintain imaging equipment
  • Follow precise orders from physicians on what areas of the body to image
  • Prepare patients for procedures, including taking a medical history and shielding exposed areas that do not need to be imaged
  • Position the patient and the equipment in order to get the correct image
  • Operate the computerized equipment to take the images
  • Work with physicians to evaluate the images and to determine whether additional images need to be taken
  • Keep detailed patient records

Radiologic technologists are trained in the use of different types of medical diagnostic equipment. They may choose to specialize, such as in x-ray, mammography, or computed tomography (CT) imaging. Some radiologic technologists provide a mixture for the patient to drink that allows soft tissue to be viewed on the images that the radiologist reviews.

MRI technologists specialize in magnetic resonance imaging scanners. They inject patients with contrast media, such as a dye, so that the images will show up on the scanner. The scanners use magnetic fields in combination with the contrast agent to produce images that a physician can use to diagnose medical problems.

For information about healthcare workers who specialize in other diagnostic equipment, see the profiles for nuclear medicine technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers, and cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including vascular technologists.

Salary
Median salary: $74,690 annually
Half of those employed in this career earn between $62,140 and $88,370.
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Context: Median Salary
How do salaries for this career compare to other jobs' salaries?
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Salary growth for magnetic resonance imaging technologists
Is this job likely to reward you for sticking with it through pay raises and promotions? The higher a job’s “experience quotient,” the more you are likely to get as you stay there.
Experience quotient percentile
Take a minute to look at how much you might expect your salary to increase with each five years' experience, as well as how the numbers working at each age change. Does this seem to be a job for the young or the old, or could it be a career offering steady salary growth for many years?
Salary distribution
$53K$71K$55K$76K$72K$64K$69K$64K$0$50K$100K$150K20-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64
Number employed
01K2K3K4K5K20-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64
About Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
How do benefits for this career compare to other jobs? The availability of health care, especially employer provided health care, and pension plans can add significantly to the value of compensation you receive in a career. These charts compare how this career compares to other careers with regard to health care and pension plans.
Employee has health insurance
Employer is providing health insurance
Employer-provided pension plan is available
Worker concerns
Some jobs are more stressful than others, and some are just plain dangerous. The following list gives the percentages of magnetic resonance imaging technologists who report hazardous or difficult situations typically occurring at least once a week.
  • Responsible for Others' Health (89%)
  • Consequence of Error (85%)
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections (82%)
  • Unpleasant or Angry People (78%)
  • Time Pressure (74%)
  • High Conflict Frequency (48%)
SOURCES:
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Personality and skills
Can you see yourself in the ranks of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists? Here are the skills and traits that could lead to success.
Detail oriented
Radiologic and MRI technologists must follow instructions exactly to get the images needed for diagnoses.
Interpersonal skills
Radiologic and MRI technologists work closely with patients who may be stressed or in pain. They must put patients at ease to get usable images.
Math skills
Radiologic and MRI technologists may need to calculate the proper amount of radiation or magnetic resonance emitted in imaging procedures.
Physical stamina
Radiologic and MRI technologists often work on their feet for long periods during their shift and must be able to lift and move patients who need help.
Technical skills
Radiologic and MRI technologists must understand how to operate complex machinery.
Injury and Illness
About 91 magnetic resonance imaging technologists become injured or ill for every 10,000 workers, making this job more dangerous than 79% of other careers. The most common specific illnesses or injuries are detailed following.
Amputations
Sprains, strains, tears
Bruises and contusions
Education pathways to this career
Education attained by magnetic resonance imaging technologists
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), magnetic resonance imaging technologists typically hold a associate's degree.
Sometimes the typical education identified by the BLS differs a bit from the reality of the how much education current workers actually have. The donut shows the education level held by people currently working as magnetic resonance imaging technologists as reported in responses to the American Community Survey.
Details: Education and training recommended for magnetic resonance imaging technologists

High school students who are interested in radiologic or MRI technology should take courses that focus on math and science, such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics.

An associate’s degree is the education typically required for radiologic and MRI technologists. There also are postsecondary education programs that lead to graduate certificates or bachelor’s degrees. Education programs typically include both academic study and clinical work. Coursework includes anatomy, pathology, patient care, radiation physics and protection, and image evaluation.

The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) accredits programs in radiography and magnetic resonance, and the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT) accredits MRI programs. Some states require candidates for licensure to complete an accredited program.

Details: Licensing and certification recommended for magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified. Few states require licensure for MRI technologists. Requirements vary by state.

To become licensed, technologists usually must graduate from an accredited program and either pass a certification exam from the state or obtain certification from a credentialing organization. Technologists may be certified in multiple specialties. Certifications for radiologic technologists are available from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Certification for MRI technologists is available from the ARRT and from the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ARMRIT). For specific licensure requirements for radiologic technologists and MRI technologists, contact the state’s health board.

Employers typically require or prefer prospective technologists to be certified even if the state does not require it. Employers also may require or prefer that prospective technologists have certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS).

Education level of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
Only 36% of magnetic resonance imaging technologists have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Education attained by magnetic resonance imaging technologists
None
High School
Some College
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Professional Degree
Doctorate
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Programs recommended by the Department of Education
The Department of Education recommends the following college degree programs as preparation for this career. You can click the program row to learn more about the program and explore a list of schools that offer the program.
Number of degrees awarded in 2018
Education
Education level of awarded degrees
Assoc./Cert.
Bachelor's
Graduate
Gender
Gender of graduates
Men
Women
Race/Origin
Race/origin of graduates
White
Minority
International
Where are the jobs
State-by-state employment numbers
Some careers tend to be centered in specific parts of the country. For example, most jobs in fashion are in New York or California. Let's see if your dream job is easy to find in your dream location! We have a few choices for viewing the data that can help you get a full employment picture.
Select a state to see local area details
Number of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists per 1,000 workers (ACS)
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORUTWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICANVCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFLPR
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Job density versus job count
Which states hire the most magnetic resonance imaging technologists? We wonder if that's a fair question since states come in all sizes, so instead let's start with the question of which states have the highest density of people working as magnetic resonance imaging technologists. You can choose to view the number of jobs per state if you prefer.
Salaries by state
Let's get a feel for where magnetic resonance imaging technologists earn the highest salaries. There are several choices for which data we consider and how we view that data, and each can lead to different conclusions, so please read on...
Median salary versus state ratio
We use two methods to compare salaries across states:
  • In-state comparisons: the ratio of median (middle) salaries for magnetic resonance imaging technologists compared to the median salary for all people working in each state, or
  • Median salary: the unaltered median salaries for magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
We hope the ratio allows perspective about how salaries may compare to the regional cost-of-living.
The darkest shading corresponds to states in which magnetic resonance imaging technologists earn the highest salary when compared to other jobs in the state. We think this figure might be a better indicator than the actual salary for your buying power as a state resident.
Select a state to see local area details
Location-adjusted median salary for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (ACS)
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORUTWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICANVCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFLPR
Employment
18% of Magnetic resonance imaging technologists are working part time.
We’ve found that some jobs have a huge number of part-time workers, and typically that is because they are unable to find full-time work or the job itself can’t provide full-time hours. With 18% part-time workers, this occupation has a higher percentage of part-time workers than 63% of careers.
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Employer types
This donut shares the break-down of workers by employer type, giving us a picture of what employers most typically hire for this career.
Employers of undefined (ACS)
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Local government
State government
Federal government
Self-employed incorporated
Self-employed not incorporated
Working without pay
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Distribution: Salaries of magnetic resonance imaging technologists by type of employer
Here are the salary distributions based on employer type.
$63K$62K$65K$70K$64K$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000$100,000$120,000Federal governmentState governmentPrivate not-for-profitPrivate for-profitAll
Gender
Magnetic resonance imaging technologists and gender
With 55% women, this occupation has a higher percentage of women than 68% of careers.
Gender of Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
Men (45%)
Women (55%)
Distribution: salaries by gender
Does gender greatly influence your salary in this career? The closer the bars are, the less discrepancy there is.
$58K$69K$0$100K$200K$300KWomenMen
We only include salary data when the survey error is less than 20%, so you may see only partial information for some categories.
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Context: Women in the workforce
How does this career compare to other careers with regard to the percentage of women in the career.
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Context: Salary inequity
The median salary for all full-time male workers in the US exceeds the full-time median salary for women by 19%. The situation is a little better for magnetic resonance imaging technologists, with the median salary for men 18% higher than the median salary for women.
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Race/Origin
Race and origin of Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
This donut shows the distribution of race and origin among those employed as Magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
Race/origin of magnetic resonance imaging technologists
White (78% )
Asian (9% )
Black (7% )
Other (3% )
Multiracial (2% )
Hispanic (0% )
American Indian (0% )
Pacific Islander (0% )
Distribution: salaries by race/origin
Some careers might have a pay disparity based on race or origin, the closer the below bars are the less of a discrepancy is present.
$52K$58K$63K$67K$68K$0$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K$120KMultiracialOtherWhiteAsianPacific Islander
We only include salary data when the survey error is less than 20%, so you may see only partial information for some categories.