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MRI tech salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$124,000median pay per year in California, or $59.62 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $74,360lowest 10% earn less
  2. $92,97025th percentile
  3. $124,000median
  4. $151,76075th percentile
  5. $174,030top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $95,480[3]

The median pay for an mri tech in California was $124,000 a year in May 2025[1]. Only one state had a higher median[5].

Jobs in CA
3,570[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+29.9%[6]

How much do MRI teches make in California?

Half of the mri techs in California earned more than $124,000 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $59.62 an hour[1]. The average was a little lower, at $120,560 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for this job was $95,480[3]. California's median was $28,520 (29.9%) higher[6]. Compared with all jobs in the state, which had a median of $58,240[8], the median for an mri tech was $65,760 higher[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,360 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $174,030[2]. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $176,950[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $146,260[11], and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had a median of $109,800[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out self-employed people and owners of unincorporated firms. Bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits are also not part of the wages[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for MRI teches in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$124,000[1]$95,480[3]
Median per hour$59.62[1]$45.91[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$74,360[2]$68,890[13]
Top 10% earn more than$174,030[2]$127,670[13]
Jobs3,570[4]43,390[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for MRI teches, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$109,8001,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$146,260420
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$106,010320
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$123,080320
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$144,810220
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$176,950220
Fresno, CA$106,710130
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$98,55060

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for MRI teches in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$121,920510
Arizona$100,600730
Nevada$98,260340

Median pay for MRI teches in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for MRI teches are projected to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an mri tech make in California?
The median was $124,000 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $120,560 a year[7].
How much does an mri tech make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $59.62[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35.75 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $83.67[2][17].
Which city in California pays mri techs the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median annual wage, $176,950, among the 13 metro areas with a published median[10]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom had a median of $144,810[11].
Is California a good state for mri techs?
California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for this job among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $124,000 was $28,520 higher than the US median[1][6].
What do you need to become an mri tech in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is an associate's degree, with less than 5 years of related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California was $124,000 per year and $59.62 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California: 10th percentile $74,360, 25th percentile $92,970, 75th percentile $151,760, 90th percentile $174,030. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in the US as a whole was $95,480 per year and $45.91 per hour, with about 43,390 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,570 people worked as Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California ($124,000) was $28,520 (29.9%) higher than the US median ($95,480). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California was $120,560 per year and $57.96 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California was $65,760 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $176,950. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in the US: 10th percentile $68,890, 25th percentile $81,040, 75th percentile $106,340, 90th percentile $127,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $121,920; Arizona $100,600; Nevada $98,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists is projected to grow 7.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,300 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in California: 10th percentile $35.75, 25th percentile $44.70, 75th percentile $72.96, 90th percentile $83.67. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.