How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in District of Columbia in 2026?

A typical MRI Tech in the District of Columbia earns about $61.88 per hour, or $128,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $10,726 a month and $2,475 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. Few places in the country pay this occupation more. The figure reflects pay across hospitals and imaging centers throughout the city.

DC pay runs 35% above the national figures of $45.91 per hour and $95,480 per year. Among the 51 states and territories tracked, the District of Columbia ranks #1 for MRI Tech pay. About 150 MRI Techs work in the District, compared with 43,390 nationwide. That gap in numbers reflects the District's small size relative to other states.

Entry-level positions in the District of Columbia typically offer around $42.85 to $48.57 per hour, or about $89,120 to $101,020 per year. These figures mark the lower range of the pay scale for newly credentialed MRI Techs. Pay tends to move toward the citywide typical figure of $128,710 within a few years of experience. Hospitals and larger imaging centers in Washington often set the pace for these early-career rates.

Experienced MRI Techs in the District often earn upwards of $62.77 to $64.88 per hour, or about $130,560 to $134,950 per year for the top 10% of earners. That top range sits $45,830 above the entry-level figure. Setting, specific facility, and years of experience typically account for the difference within that spread.

A decade ago, in 2015, a typical MRI Tech in the District of Columbia earned $86,650 per year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $128,710, a gain of $42,060. That's a 49% rise over ten years. The increase reflects broader gains across the healthcare imaging field during that period.

Nationally, MRI Tech pay rose 41% over the same decade, a few points behind DC's 49% increase. Pay for this role in the District has moved up substantially over the past ten years. That doesn't guarantee similar gains going forward, but it shows a role that has kept pace with, and outpaced, national wage growth.

Washington is the District's only reported metro area for MRI Tech pay, with earners there making $109,110 per year, or $52.46 per hour. That figure runs 15% below the citywide typical pay of $128,710, reflecting the difference between the metro-area figure and the broader District figure. The Washington metro area also carries the largest MRI Tech workforce in the District, at about 810 professionals.

Because the District of Columbia is reported as a single metro area, pay for MRI Techs is fairly uniform across it rather than varying by city as in larger states. Washington's cost of living ranks among the highest in the country, which factors into pay levels here. There's no separate lower-paying city to compare, since Washington is the only metro area covered in the data.

The District of Columbia pays MRI Techs more than both of its neighbors. Maryland's typical pay runs $105,230 per year, about 18% below the District's figure, while Virginia's typical pay of $98,640 per year runs about 23% lower. MRI Tech licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, so professionals in the DC area frequently have options across state lines.

MRI Tech pay in the District of Columbia currently stands at about $128,710 per year, up 49% over the past decade. That places the District at the top of the national pay scale for this role. Readers considering this career locally should check the District's licensing or registry requirements, and look at city-level pages for figures in nearby Maryland and Virginia metro areas before making a decision.