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

A typical MRI Tech in Kentucky earns about $39.52 per hour ($82,200 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $6,850 a month or $1,581 a week. These figures reflect the full range of MRI Tech roles across the state, from hospital imaging departments to outpatient centers.

Kentucky pay runs 14% below the national annual figure of $95,480, a gap that often tracks the state's lower cost of living. Among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Kentucky ranks 42nd for MRI Tech pay. About 650 MRI Techs work across the state, a workforce small enough that individual cities can move the overall figure.

Entry-level positions in Kentucky typically offer around $31.81 an hour ($66,170 a year), the starting range for MRI Techs new to the field or state. Pay tends to move toward the statewide typical figure of $82,200 within the first few years on the job. Hospitals and larger imaging centers in bigger cities often move new techs through this range faster than smaller rural practices.

Experienced MRI Techs in Kentucky often earn upwards of $45.70 an hour ($95,050 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $101,760 a year. That leaves a $35,590 spread between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part, with hospital-based and Louisville-area positions generally landing toward the higher end.

Kentucky's typical MRI Tech pay rose from $61,780 in 2015 to $82,200 in 2025, a gain of $20,420 over the decade. That amounts to a 33% rise, with pay climbing in most years along the way. The increase reflects broader wage trends in medical imaging rather than any single change in Kentucky specifically.

Nationally, MRI Tech pay rose 41% over the same decade, a faster pace than Kentucky's climb. That difference has widened the gap between Kentucky and the national figure over time. Pay for someone starting in the field now is higher than it was ten years ago, though past growth is no guarantee of future increases.

Pay runs highest in Louisville, where MRI Techs typically earn $94,630 a year ($45.49 an hour), about 15% above the statewide figure. These figures cover the full Louisville metro area, not just the city center. Ashland follows at $89,010 a year, also well above the state figure.

Lexington and Fayette County pay the least among the state's tracked metro areas, at $80,410 a year, a $14,220 spread from the top of the range in Louisville. Louisville also has the largest MRI Tech workforce in the state, with 210 of Kentucky's 650 positions. Higher pay in Louisville tends to come with a higher cost of living, which can offset some of the difference.

Kentucky's neighbors mostly pay MRI Techs more. Virginia leads at $98,640 a year, 20% above Kentucky's figure, and Illinois follows at $95,380, 16% higher. Tennessee pays less, at $78,610 a year, about 4% below Kentucky's figure. MRI Tech licensure or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state, though requirements vary.

MRI Techs in Kentucky typically earn $82,200 a year ($39.52 an hour), a figure that has climbed 33% over the past decade. Pay runs somewhat below the national figure but tracks with the state's cost of living, and varies by city, with Louisville paying the most. Readers considering this path in Kentucky can check the state licensing or registry page for requirements, and the city pages for local pay figures.