How To Become An MRI Technologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an mri technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An MRI technologist operates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to produce diagnostic images for patients. They work closely with radiologists and physicians to ensure accurate results and patient safety. MRI technologists prepare patients for scans, explain procedures, and monitor vital signs. They also maintain equipment, troubleshoot technical issues, and keep records. They typically hold a degree in radiologic technology and are licensed or certified.

ScoreMRI TechnologistUS Average

Salary

6.0

Avg. Salary $77,257

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.1

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 10.43%

Black or African American 5.39%

Hispanic or Latino 10.96%

Unknown 3.30%

White 69.74%

Gender

female 56.41%

male 43.59%

Age - 45.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45.5

Stress Level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.2

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an MRI Technologist?

Pros

High demand for MRI technologists
Ability to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and imaging centers
Good salary and benefits
Potential for career advancement
Flexible scheduling options

Cons

Exposure to potentially harmful radiation
Risk of injury from moving and lifting patients
Limited career growth opportunities beyond management roles
Working holidays and weekends may be required
Risk of burnout due to high workload and long hours

Key steps to become an mri technologist

Explore mri technologist education requirements

Most common mri technologist degrees

Associate

55.9 %

Bachelor's

26.6 %

Certificate

10.1 %

Start to develop specific mri technologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	18.82%
ARRT	10.99%
Magnetic Resonance Imaging	10.43%
Radiology	7.87%
Magnetic Resonance	7.20%

Complete relevant mri technologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mri technologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an mri technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mri technologist resumes.

Gain additional mri technologist certifications

Mri technologist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific mri technologist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for mri technologists include Certified MRI Technologists and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist.

More About Certifications

Research mri technologist duties and responsibilities

Manage and direct the ALARA program for the diagnostic imaging flight.
Contribute significantly to department's continuous quality improvement process; achieve ACR certification.
Position patients with superb quality care, professional courtesy & compassion.
Register, image, process, QC, and finalize all patient exams for specialist and radiologist review.

Prepare your mri technologist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mri technologist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an mri technologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable MRI Technologist Resume templates

Build a professional MRI Technologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your MRI Technologist resume.

Apply for mri technologist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an mri technologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do mri technologists rate their job?

-/5

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MRI Technologist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

Is an experience that will make you love humanity and be kind to others ,using technology to help people get better is extremely rewarding , also the flexibility to work in different places with different people is a plus.

Cons

Most places need more CT techs ,we can't have enough people ,petty sure hospital in the world is understaffed .