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Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

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.

Median pay
$95,480

a year

Doing it now
43,900

across the country

By 2035
Up 7.7%

2,300 openings a year

Usually needs
Associate's degree

to get in

What the work involves

  • Attach physiological monitoring leads to patient's finger, chest, waist, or other body parts.
  • Calibrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) console or peripheral hardware.
  • Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos.
  • Connect physiological leads to physiological acquisition control (PAC) units.
  • Create backup copies of images by transferring images from disk to storage media or workstation.
  • Explain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures to patients, patient representatives, or family members.
  • Intravenously inject contrast dyes, such as gadolinium contrast, in accordance with scope of practice.

What to study

The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.

Who it suits

O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.

  • Hands-on and practical

  • Organised and precise

  • Analytical and curious

Answer 24 questions and see whether this is a fit for you

Careers like this one

Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $95,480 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.