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

A typical MRI Tech in Illinois earns about $45.86 per hour ($95,380 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $7,948 a month and $1,834 a week, based on the annual figure. Those figures span hospitals, imaging centers, and outpatient clinics across both large metro areas and smaller Illinois cities. Illinois-specific pay gives a clearer picture than national estimates for anyone weighing a local job offer.

Illinois pay is essentially even with the national figure of $45.91 an hour ($95,480 a year), a difference of less than half a percent. The state ranks 23rd among all 51 states and the District of Columbia for MRI Tech pay, placing it in the upper half nationally. About 2,760 MRI Techs work in Illinois, compared with 43,390 nationwide, giving a sense of scale for the local job pool.

Entry-level positions in Illinois typically offer around $37.22 an hour ($77,410 a year) for MRI Techs just starting out. Some new hires land closer to $39.33 an hour ($81,800 a year) as they gain a bit of experience. Pay tends to move toward the typical figure of $45.86 an hour ($95,380 a year) within the first few years on the job. Newer technologists usually start in hospital settings before moving into higher-paying specialties.

Experienced MRI Techs in Illinois often earn upwards of $49.64 an hour ($103,250 a year), with the top 10% of earners making over $52.67 an hour ($109,550). That puts the gap between entry-level and top pay at $32,140 a year. The spread usually comes down to setting, years of experience, and city: hospital and specialty imaging roles in higher-paying areas like Chicago tend to sit at the top of that range.

Illinois MRI Tech pay has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $69,050 in 2015 to $95,380 in 2025. That's a gain of $26,330, or 38%, over ten years. The increase wasn't perfectly even year to year, with pay dipping slightly in 2017 and 2019 before climbing again. Still, the overall direction has been consistently upward since 2015.

Nationally, MRI Tech pay rose 41% over the same decade, a few points ahead of the Illinois rise. That means Illinois pay has grown at a slightly slower pace than the country as a whole, even though the current dollar figures are close. For someone starting an MRI Tech career in Illinois now, the decade of data shows pay has moved up consistently, though nothing guarantees that trend continues at the same pace.

Pay runs highest in Chicago, where MRI Techs earn $100,730 a year, about 6% above the statewide figure. Rockford follows at $94,860 a year, close to the state typical pay. Springfield comes in lower, at $85,060 a year, still well ahead of the state's smallest markets. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

At the lower end, Rock Island and Moline both post the lowest pay in the state, at $78,350 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying Illinois cities at $22,380. Chicago also has by far the largest MRI Tech workforce in the state, with about 1,930 technologists. Pay differences across Illinois cities generally track differences in local living costs, with higher pay concentrated in and around Chicago.

Wisconsin pays MRI Techs closest to Illinois's figure, at $94,720 a year, just 1% below the Illinois figure. Iowa pays the least among Illinois's neighbors, at $81,420 a year, 15% below Illinois, with Indiana ($86,880), Missouri ($83,110), and Kentucky ($82,200) also trailing by 9% to 14%. MRI Tech licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can simplify a move across state lines.

MRI Techs in Illinois typically earn $95,380 a year ($45.86 an hour), pay that has climbed 38% over the past decade and now sits close to the national figure. Chicago and Rockford offer the highest pay in the state, while smaller cities like Rock Island and Moline pay less. Readers weighing a move or a new certification can check Illinois's licensing and registry requirements, along with city-level pages, for more specific figures.