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MRI tech salary in Tennessee

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$78,610median pay per year in Tennessee, or $37.79 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,310lowest 10% earn less
  2. $67,63025th percentile
  3. $78,610median
  4. $82,77075th percentile
  5. $97,870top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $95,480[3]

The median pay for mri tech jobs in Tennessee was $78,610 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $16,870 below the US median[6].

Jobs in TN
1,350[4]
Rank by median pay
48 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−17.7%[6]

How much do MRI teches make in Tennessee?

The median is the middle point of the pay range. Half of mri techs in Tennessee earned more than $78,610 a year, or $37.79 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was $78,220 a year[7].

Across the US, the median was $95,480[3]. Tennessee sits $16,870 (17.7%) below that[6]. It ranked 48th out of the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Compared with all jobs in Tennessee, where the median was $47,380[8], mri techs earned $31,230 more[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,310, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $97,870[2]. Of the 5 metro areas with a published median, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin had the highest at $82,470[10][11]. Memphis had a median of $80,790 and Knoxville had $77,080[10]. These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out self-employed workers, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

Tennessee vs US pay

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

TNUS
Median per year$78,610[1]$95,480[3]
Median per hour$37.79[1]$45.91[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$62,310[2]$68,890[13]
Top 10% earn more than$97,870[2]$127,670[13]
Jobs1,350[4]43,390[3]

Pay by metro area in Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee with the most jobs for MRI teches, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN[10]$82,470350
Memphis, TN-MS-AR$80,790270
Knoxville, TN$77,080190
Chattanooga, TN-GA$76,840170
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA$74,91080

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[14]$98,6401,070
Georgia$92,0601,800
North Carolina$85,1201,180
Missouri$83,1101,040
Kentucky$82,200650
Alabama$78,890490
Arkansas$78,780380
Mississippi$71,710250

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 Tennessee?
The median was $78,610 a year in May 2025, and the average was $78,220[1][7]. The middle half of mri techs earned between $67,630 and $82,770[2].
How much does an mri tech make an hour in Tennessee?
The median was $37.79 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $29.96 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $47.05[17].
Which city in Tennessee pays mri techs the most?
Of the 5 metro areas with a published median, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin had the highest at $82,470[11]. Chattanooga had a median of $76,840[10].
Is Tennessee a good state for mri techs?
Tennessee ranked 48th out of the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Its median was 17.7% below the US median[6].
What do you need to become an mri tech in Tennessee?
This is a US figure, not a Tennessee one. Across the US, the typical entry education 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 Tennessee was $78,610 per year and $37.79 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 Tennessee: 10th percentile $62,310, 25th percentile $67,630, 75th percentile $82,770, 90th percentile $97,870. 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 1,350 people worked as Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in Tennessee (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Tennessee had the 48th 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 Tennessee ($78,610) was $16,870 (17.7%) lower 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 Tennessee was $78,220 per year and $37.60 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Tennessee was $47,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in Tennessee was $31,230 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 5 metro areas in or partly in Tennessee with a published median for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN had the highest median annual wage, $82,470. 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 Tennessee (highest first): Virginia $98,640; Georgia $92,060; North Carolina $85,120; Missouri $83,110; Kentucky $82,200; Alabama $78,890; Arkansas $78,780; Mississippi $71,710. 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 Tennessee: 10th percentile $29.96, 25th percentile $32.52, 75th percentile $39.79, 90th percentile $47.05. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Tennessee. 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.