How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in California in 2026?

A typical MRI Tech in California earns about $59.62 per hour ($124,000 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $10,333 a month and about $2,385 a week, based on the annual figure. These figures represent typical pay across the state as a whole.

California pay runs 30% above the national figure of $95,480 a year for MRI Techs, according to the same wage data. That gap places California 2nd among all 51 states ranked for this occupation. Around 3,570 MRI Techs work across California, giving a sense of scale for how many people earn at these levels statewide.

Entry-level positions in California typically offer around $74,360 a year (about $35.75 an hour), according to May 2025 wage data. Pay in these roles tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $124,000 within a few years of experience. New graduates and MRI Techs early in their careers make up this entry tier.

Experienced MRI Techs in California often earn upwards of $72.96 an hour ($151,760 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $83.67 an hour ($174,030 a year). That is a spread of $99,670 between entry-level and top-tier pay. What tends to separate the two groups is a mix of experience, work setting, and the city where the job is located.

MRI Tech pay in California rose from $87,700 a year in 2015 to $124,000 a year in 2025, a gain of $36,300 over the decade. That works out to a 41% increase in typical pay, according to the same wage data series. The rise was not perfectly steady, with a couple of down years along the way, but the overall direction was up.

Nationally, MRI Tech pay rose by the same 41% over that decade, so California's increase has kept pace with the rest of the country rather than pulling ahead or falling behind. For someone starting an MRI Tech career in California now, that decade of data shows pay has moved up over time, though it offers no guarantee of future gains.

The highest MRI Tech pay in California is found in the Sunnyvale metro area, where typical pay reaches $176,950 a year, about 43% above the state figure. San Jose and Santa Clara, part of the same metro area, post the same figure. Nearby Vallejo is close behind at $176,650 a year.

At the other end, the Ventura metro area posts the lowest typical pay in the state at $86,050 a year, a spread of $90,900 from the top. Anaheim, covering the Los Angeles area and Long Beach, has the largest MRI Tech workforce in California at 1,290 workers, with typical pay of $109,800 a year. Higher pay in metro areas like Sunnyvale generally tracks a higher cost of living.

California's MRI Tech pay outpaces its neighbors. Oregon comes closest at $121,920 a year, about 2% below California, while Arizona and Nevada trail further behind at $100,600 and $98,260, roughly 19% and 21% lower. For someone weighing a move, that gap can be worth factoring in alongside cost of living. MRI Tech licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary by state board.

MRI Techs in California typically earn $124,000 a year as of May 2025, up 41% over the past decade from $87,700. That pay runs well above the national figure and varies by city, experience, and setting across the state. Readers weighing a move or a new career should check California's licensing and registry requirements, along with city-level pages, for figures specific to their local job market.