Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists vs Radiologic Technologist: $95K vs $80K Median Pay

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists vs Radiologic Technologist: what changes?

Consider Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists if you want to operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Consider Radiologic Technologist if you would rather take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Both list associate's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists and Radiologic Technologist. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

National median pay (2025): $95,480
Route into the job: Associate's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Review physicians' orders to confirm prescribed exams.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,300

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists brief

Radiologic Technologist

National median pay (2025): $80,110
Route into the job: An associate degree with clinical training is typical. Check the program's full timeline, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements before estimating when you can start paid work.
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Physical work: Long periods on your feet, patient positioning, and sometimes lifting or turning patients.
Schedule and hours: Hospital imaging may require evening, weekend, or overnight coverage; outpatient schedules can differ.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 13,000

Know before you choose

Imaging is hands-on patient care. Ask about help with transfers and the staffing of the shifts you would actually work.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 6, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

What the workforce research adds

ASRT's 2025 staffing survey reported a 15.6% radiography vacancy rate, indicating continued staffing demand.

ASRT · 2025. Survey measures differ across careers; their percentages are not directly comparable. A national survey does not establish local hiring odds or the quality of a particular employer.

See the full Radiologic Technologist brief

How the national numbers differ

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on annual openings

Radiologic Technologist is at 13,000 annual openings, compared with 2,300 annual openings for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists has the edge on projected growth

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists is at 7.7% projected growth, compared with 5% projected growth for Radiologic Technologist.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists has the edge on median pay

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists is at $95,480, compared with $80,110 for Radiologic Technologist.

63.3/ 100

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

67.7/ 100

Radiologic Technologist

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists vs Radiologic Technologist

Dimension	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	Radiologic Technologist
Median pay (2025)	$95,480	$80,110
Pay percentile	79.4 percentile	72.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	7.7%	5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	2,300	13,000
2025 employment	43,900	234,200
How you qualify	Associate's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	An associate degree with clinical training is typical. Check the program's full timeline, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements before estimating when you can start paid work.
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Schedules	Varies by employer and setting; ask about shifts, overtime, on-call work, and predictable hours.	Hospital imaging may require evening, weekend, or overnight coverage; outpatient schedules can differ.
Physical work	Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.	Long periods on your feet, patient positioning, and sometimes lifting or turning patients.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists brief Read Radiologic Technologist brief

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists vs Radiologic Technologist: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Radiologic Technologist

How the national numbers differ

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on annual openings

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists has the edge on projected growth

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists has the edge on median pay

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists vs Radiologic Technologist

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