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

A typical MRI Tech in Colorado earns about $50.66 per hour ($105,380 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $8,782 a month and $2,027 a week, based on the annual figure. Those numbers describe the point where the largest share of Colorado's MRI Techs land, not the extremes on either end.

Colorado's typical pay sits 10% above the national figure of $95,480 a year, one of the stronger showings in the country. That gap places Colorado 11th out of 51 states ranked by MRI Tech pay. Around 670 MRI Techs work in Colorado, a small slice compared with the 43,390 counted nationwide.

Entry-level positions in Colorado typically offer around $40.61 an hour, or about $84,460 a year, for MRI Techs just starting out. That's a common starting point for newly credentialed technologists building their first few years of experience. Pay tends to move up from there fairly quickly, and most technologists reach something close to the state's typical $105,380 within a few years on the job.

Experienced MRI Techs in Colorado often earn upwards of $54.51 an hour, or around $113,390 a year, once they've built a solid track record. The top 10% of earners make over $122,980 a year ($59.13 an hour), a spread of $38,520 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years on the job, and city all play a part in where an individual technologist lands within that range.

Colorado's MRI Tech pay has climbed from $76,720 in 2015 to $105,380 in 2025, a gain of $28,660 over the decade. That amounts to a 37% rise in typical pay over ten years. The increase wasn't a straight line: pay dipped slightly in 2016 and again in 2021 before climbing steadily through the past few years.

Nationally, MRI Tech pay rose 41% over the same decade, a slightly faster pace than Colorado's climb. Pay has moved up steadily for Colorado technologists over the past ten years, though past gains don't guarantee future increases. Someone starting out now enters a field where typical pay has grown substantially since 2015.

Pay runs highest in Boulder, where MRI Techs earn $111,020 a year ($53.37 an hour), about 5% above the state figure. Denver, Aurora, and Centennial follow closely together at $105,920 a year ($50.92 an hour), roughly in line with the statewide figure. Fort Collins and Loveland pay a bit less, at $103,080 a year each.

Colorado Springs pays the least among Colorado's metro areas, at $101,350 a year ($48.73 an hour), a spread of $9,670 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Denver holds the largest MRI Tech workforce in the state, with 330 employed there. These figures cover each city's full metro area, and higher pay in places like Boulder and Denver often tracks a higher cost of living.

Colorado pays more than every one of its neighboring states. Arizona comes closest, at $100,600 a year, about 5% below Colorado's figure, while Kansas and Nebraska trail furthest, each 22% lower at roughly $82,700 a year. Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, and Oklahoma fall somewhere between those two ends. Licensure earned in Colorado can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary by state.

MRI Techs in Colorado typically earn $105,380 a year ($50.66 an hour), a figure that has climbed 37% over the past decade. For specific requirements, Colorado's licensing or registry board page is the place to check current rules. Readers weighing where to work within the state can compare local figures on the city pages for Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and others covered here.