How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in North Carolina in 2026?

A typical MRI Tech in North Carolina earns about $40.93 per hour, or $85,120 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $7,093 a month and $1,637 a week. This is the typical figure for the state as a whole, not tied to one employer or setting. It offers a solid starting point for comparing job offers or planning a budget.

Nationally, MRI Techs earn a typical $95,480 per year, which puts North Carolina about 11% below that figure. Among the 51 states and territories ranked, North Carolina lands at 35th. About 1,180 people work as MRI Techs across the state, a workforce size that gives context to how these figures were gathered. Lower pay in North Carolina generally tracks its lower cost of living compared with higher-paying states.

Entry-level positions in North Carolina typically offer around $30.74 an hour, or about $63,940 a year, for those just starting out. Some newer MRI Techs earn closer to $79,460 a year as they gain a year or two of experience. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $85,120 within the first few years on the job. Certification and hands-on scanning experience both play a role in how quickly that happens.

Experienced MRI Techs in North Carolina often earn upwards of $95,920 a year, and the top 10% make over $101,240, or $48.67 an hour. That leaves a $37,300 spread between entry-level and top pay across the state. Setting matters here: hospitals and imaging centers in larger metro areas tend to pay more than smaller practices in rural counties. Years of experience and additional certifications also separate the top earners from those just starting out.

North Carolina's typical pay for MRI Techs rose from $66,160 in 2015 to $85,120 in 2025. That is a gain of $18,960, or 29%, over the decade. The increase was not perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly in 2016 before climbing most years since. By 2025, pay had settled at its highest point in the ten-year record.

Nationally, MRI Tech pay rose 41% over the same ten years, a faster climb than North Carolina saw. The gap suggests other states have closed in on North Carolina's pay over time, even as the state's own numbers moved up. For someone starting now, this history shows pay has trended upward, though nothing guarantees that pace continues. It's a track record, not a forecast.

Pay runs highest in the Norfolk metro area, which covers the northeastern corner of the state and reaches $95,950 a year ($46.13 an hour), about 13% above the state figure. The Chesapeake metro area matches that same figure. Charlotte follows at $90,930 a year, still well above the statewide typical pay. These figures reflect pay across each full metro area, not just the city center.

Fayetteville pays the least among the cities listed, at $79,460 a year ($38.20 an hour), a spread of $16,490 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas in the state. Charlotte has the largest MRI Tech workforce, with 280 people employed there. Pay differences across these cities generally track differences in local living costs, with higher-cost metro areas paying more to match. Job seekers can weigh these figures against housing and other costs in each area.

Among neighboring states, Virginia pays MRI Techs the most, with a typical $98,640 a year, about 16% above North Carolina's figure. Georgia also pays more, at $92,060. Tennessee pays less, at $78,610, about 8% below North Carolina, and South Carolina sits close behind at $83,550. MRI Tech licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring one, which can widen job options across state lines.

MRI Techs in North Carolina typically earn $85,120 a year, up 29% over the past decade from $66,160 in 2015. Pay varies by city and experience level, from entry-level figures near $63,940 to over $101,240 for the top 10% of earners. Readers weighing a move into the field can check North Carolina's licensing and registry requirements, and compare local figures on individual city pages before deciding where to apply.