Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
Also called: MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator), MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator), MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician), MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist)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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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 6 of its 22 rated tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 7.7% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.0 hires for every 10 job openings in health care and social assistance, which employs about 95% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $78,890 | $68,580 to $85,750 | 490 |
| Alaska | $120,610 | $99,920 to $125,610 | 100 |
| Arizona | $100,600 | $83,770 to $106,120 | 730 |
| Arkansas | $78,780 | $69,240 to $83,060 | 380 |
| California | $124,000 | $92,970 to $151,760 | 3,570 |
| Colorado | $105,380 | $95,920 to $113,390 | 670 |
| Connecticut | $106,330 | $96,930 to $116,120 | 450 |
| Delaware | $103,510 | $86,120 to $111,410 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $128,710 | $101,020 to $130,560 | 150 |
| Florida | $84,330 | $78,250 to $98,540 | 2,860 |
| Georgia | $92,060 | $79,590 to $102,610 | 1,800 |
| Hawaii | $119,370 | $107,770 to $128,840 | 140 |
| Idaho | $101,680 | $92,510 to $105,040 | 170 |
| Illinois | $95,380 | $81,800 to $103,250 | 2,760 |
| Indiana | $86,880 | $76,870 to $99,360 | 1,030 |
| Iowa | $81,420 | $75,420 to $91,640 | 220 |
| Kansas | $82,670 | $75,310 to $95,210 | 330 |
| Kentucky | $82,200 | $74,590 to $95,050 | 650 |
| Louisiana | $77,510 | $64,940 to $86,480 | 510 |
| Maine | $94,140 | $84,050 to $98,360 | 210 |
| Maryland | $105,230 | $97,190 to $115,160 | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $110,600 | $99,320 to $132,870 | 1,490 |
| Michigan | $84,620 | $80,190 to $91,350 | 1,270 |
| Minnesota | $100,900 | $86,880 to $106,620 | 710 |
| Mississippi | $71,710 | $62,730 to $79,710 | 250 |
| Missouri | $83,110 | $75,520 to $93,270 | 1,040 |
| Montana | $86,950 | $79,700 to $99,580 | 150 |
| Nebraska | $82,710 | $77,670 to $92,130 | 290 |
| Nevada | $98,260 | $91,860 to $112,910 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $105,420 | $87,280 to $106,100 | 270 |
| New Jersey | $103,930 | $95,120 to $115,750 | 1,250 |
| New Mexico | $87,850 | $78,900 to $95,480 | 140 |
| New York | $113,270 | $98,090 to $125,740 | 3,240 |
| North Carolina | $85,120 | $79,460 to $95,920 | 1,180 |
| North Dakota | $80,610 | $75,520 to $89,620 | 70 |
| Ohio | $87,670 | $80,620 to $96,690 | 1,840 |
| Oklahoma | $87,480 | $81,120 to $98,110 | 400 |
| Oregon | $121,920 | $106,790 to $130,080 | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,120 | $78,850 to $100,750 | 2,250 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,810 | $39,050 to $51,970 | 100 |
| Rhode Island | $105,060 | $88,440 to $115,640 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $83,550 | $76,750 to $93,450 | 730 |
| South Dakota | $77,010 | $67,620 to $83,130 | 210 |
| Tennessee | $78,610 | $67,630 to $82,770 | 1,350 |
| Texas | $96,780 | $83,860 to $105,980 | 2,930 |
| Utah | $91,150 | $85,350 to $106,000 | 300 |
| Vermont | $103,070 | $86,090 to $132,270 | 60 |
| Virginia | $98,640 | $85,770 to $108,350 | 1,070 |
| Washington | $122,750 | $104,390 to $133,450 | 960 |
| West Virginia | $80,490 | $76,680 to $94,910 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $94,720 | $82,460 to $100,750 | 530 |
| Wyoming | $92,010 | $75,670 to $103,490 | 70 |
Nationally: $95,480. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 6 of its 22 rated tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not rated | Review physicians' orders to confirm prescribed exams. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos. | Not published |
| AI alone | Select appropriate imaging techniques or coils to produce required images. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide headphones or earplugs to patients to improve comfort and reduce unpleasant noise. | Not published |
| Not much | Take brief medical histories from patients. | Not published |
See all 24 tasks
| Not much | Position patients on cradle, attaching immobilization devices, if needed, to ensure appropriate placement for imaging. | Not published |
| Not much | Test magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment to ensure proper functioning and performance in accordance with specifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Create backup copies of images by transferring images from disk to storage media or workstation. | Not published |
| AI alone | Explain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures to patients, patient representatives, or family members. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Intravenously inject contrast dyes, such as gadolinium contrast, in accordance with scope of practice. | Not published |
| Not rated | Comfort patients during exams, or request sedatives or other medication from physicians for patients with anxiety or claustrophobia. | Not published |
| AI + software | Inspect images for quality, using magnetic resonance scanner equipment and laser camera. | Not published |
| Not much | Troubleshoot technical issues related to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner or peripheral equipment, such as monitors or coils. | Not published |
| Not much | Instruct medical staff or students in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures or equipment operation. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct inventories to maintain stock of clinical supplies. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write reports or notes to summarize testing procedures or outcomes for physicians or other medical professionals. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Calibrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) console or peripheral hardware. | Not published |
| Not much | Attach physiological monitoring leads to patient's finger, chest, waist, or other body parts. | Not published |
| Not much | Place and secure small, portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners on body part to be imaged, such as arm, leg, or head. | Not published |
| Not much | Connect physiological leads to physiological acquisition control (PAC) units. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Develop or otherwise produce film records of magnetic resonance images. | Not published |
| AI + software | Schedule appointments for research subjects or clinical patients. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 2 of the 24 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 24 tasks fall under 19 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #19 Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists
- #35 Process digital or online data
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operate medical equipment | |||
| Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures | |||
| Collect information about patients or clients | |||
| Maintain medical equipment or instruments | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects |
Show all 19 activities
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Explain medical information to patients or family members | |||
| Schedule appointments | |||
| Implement security measures for computer or information systems | |||
| Administer basic health care or medical treatments | |||
| Prepare health or medical documents | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Train others on health or medical topics | |||
| Follow standard healthcare safety procedures to protect patient and staff members | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products | |||
| Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report51%
- An explanation or answer18%
- An analysis or summary9%
- Advice or a recommendation5%
- An email or message4%
How they worked with Claude
46% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for magnetic resonance imaging technologists specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 6,521 moves out
- 1 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Moderate +5.0% 24%
- 2 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 11%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 4 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 5%
- 5 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 2%
Where people moved in from
of 7,117 moves in
- 1 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Moderate +5.0% 25%
- 2 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 13%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 4 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 4%
- 5 Nursing Assistants Low +2.6% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 4% high school
- 13% postsecondary certificate
- 4% some college
- 65% associate's
- 9% bachelor's
- 4% post-bachelor's certificate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 23 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 3% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 13% some college
- 29% associate's
- 36% bachelor's
- 13% master's
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 536 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
>99.5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 2 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TECH; MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TECHNOLOGIST (NOF)). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/29-2035.00