How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Des Moines, Iowa earns $40.90 per hour, or $85,070 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,089 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $72,890, and the top 10% of earners make over $98,780.
That pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $81,420 and 11% below the national figure of $95,480. Des Moines ranks 1st of 2 metro areas in Iowa for MRI Tech pay. About 60 MRI Techs work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so West Des Moines share these figures.
MRI Tech pay in Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $40.90 an hour, or $85,070 a year.
- That is 4% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $72,890; the top 10% make over $98,780.
- Typical pay rose +41% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Des Moines?
Pay in Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $35.04 an hour to more than $47.49 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Des Moines
| Career stage | Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $72,890$35.04 an hour | $64,290$30.91 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $80,780$38.84 an hour | $75,420$36.26 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $85,070$40.90 an hour | $81,420$39.14 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $95,120$45.73 an hour | $91,640$44.06 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $98,780$47.49 an hour | $98,780$47.49 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Des Moines was $60,330 a year. By 2025 it had reached $85,070, a change of +41%, compared with +39% for Iowa over the same years.
How Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays MRI Techs the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $78,350.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Des Moines | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $85,070 | $40.90 | this city | 60 |
| 2 | Davenport | $78,350 | $37.67 | -8% | 30 |
Every metro area in Iowa with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $81,420
Is Des Moines a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Des Moines earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $85,070 a year, 11% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 0.1 are MRI Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.3. That makes MRI Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MRI Tech make in Des Moines, IA?
- A typical MRI Tech in Des Moines earns $85,070 a year, or $40.90 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $72,890 and the top 10% earn over $98,780.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Des Moines is $40.90. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $35.04, and the top 10% earn over $47.49 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Des Moines?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Des Moines typically offer around $35.04 an hour, or $72,890 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Des Moines pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $81,420 a year, ranking 1st of 2 metro areas in the state.