How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Columbia, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Columbia, Missouri earns $36.99 per hour, or $76,930 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,411 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $71,350, and the top 10% of earners make over $115,270.
That pay is 7% below the Missouri figure of $83,110 and 19% below the national figure of $95,480. Columbia ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in Missouri for MRI Tech pay. About 60 MRI Techs work in the Columbia area.
MRI Tech pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.99 an hour, or $76,930 a year.
- That is 7% below the Missouri figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $71,350; the top 10% make over $115,270.
- Typical pay rose +24% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $34.30 an hour to more than $55.42 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $71,350$34.30 an hour | $65,400$31.44 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $76,240$36.66 an hour | $75,520$36.31 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $76,930$36.99 an hour | $83,110$39.96 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $88,060$42.34 an hour | $93,270$44.84 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $115,270$55.42 an hour | $99,130$47.66 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Columbia was $62,170 a year. By 2025 it had reached $76,930, a change of +24%, compared with +43% for Missouri over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays MRI Techs the most in Missouri at $84,040 a year, $7,110 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $70,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $84,040 | $40.41 | +9% | 390 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $83,330 | $40.06 | +8% | 480 |
| 3 | Springfield | $77,290 | $37.16 | 0% | 80 |
| 4 | Columbia | $76,930 | $36.99 | this city | 60 |
| 5 | Joplin | $70,480 | $33.88 | -8% | 40 |
Every metro area in Missouri with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $83,110
Is Columbia a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $76,930 a year, 19% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 0.6 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 Columbia, MO?
- A typical MRI Tech in Columbia earns $76,930 a year, or $36.99 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $71,350 and the top 10% earn over $115,270.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Columbia is $36.99. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $34.30, and the top 10% earn over $55.42 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Columbia?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Columbia typically offer around $34.30 an hour, or $71,350 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 7% below the Missouri figure of $83,110 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Kansas City pays the most in Missouri at $84,040.