How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Chicago, Illinois earns $48.43 per hour, or $100,730 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,394 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,850, and the top 10% of earners make over $109,550.
That pay is 6% above the Illinois figure of $95,380 and 5% above the national figure of $95,480. Chicago ranks 1st of 6 metro areas in Illinois for MRI Tech pay. About 1,930 MRI Techs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
MRI Tech pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.43 an hour, or $100,730 a year.
- That is 6% above the Illinois figure, ranking 1st of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,850; the top 10% make over $109,550.
- Typical pay rose +39% from 2015 to 2025, against +38% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $38.87 an hour to more than $52.67 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $80,850$38.87 an hour | $77,410$37.22 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $84,480$40.62 an hour | $81,800$39.33 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $100,730$48.43 an hour | $95,380$45.86 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $103,770$49.89 an hour | $103,250$49.64 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $109,550$52.67 an hour | $109,550$52.67 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Chicago was $72,540 a year. By 2025 it had reached $100,730, a change of +39%, compared with +38% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays MRI Techs the most of any metro area in Illinois. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rock Island at $78,350.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $100,730 | $48.43 | this city | 1,930 |
| 2 | Rockford | $94,860 | $45.61 | -6% | 100 |
| 3 | Springfield | $85,060 | $40.90 | -16% | 100 |
| 4 | Bloomington | $81,070 | $38.97 | -20% | 40 |
| 5 | Peoria | $79,090 | $38.02 | -21% | 120 |
| 6 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $78,350 | $37.67 | -22% | 30 |
Every metro area in Illinois with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $95,380
Is Chicago a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Chicago earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $100,730 a year, 5% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 0.4 are MRI Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on MRI Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MRI Tech make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical MRI Tech in Chicago earns $100,730 a year, or $48.43 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $80,850 and the top 10% earn over $109,550.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Chicago is $48.43. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.87, and the top 10% earn over $52.67 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Chicago?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Chicago typically offer around $38.87 an hour, or $80,850 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 6% above the Illinois figure of $95,380 a year, ranking 1st of 6 metro areas in the state.