How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Asheville, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Asheville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Asheville metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Asheville, North Carolina earns $39.54 per hour, or $82,250 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,854 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,100, and the top 10% of earners make over $103,790.
That pay is 3% below the North Carolina figure of $85,120 and 14% below the national figure of $95,480. Asheville ranks 7th of 9 metro areas in North Carolina for MRI Tech pay. About 50 MRI Techs work in the Asheville area.
MRI Tech pay in Asheville at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.54 an hour, or $82,250 a year.
- That is 3% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 7th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,100; the top 10% make over $103,790.
- Typical pay rose +39% from 2015 to 2025, against +29% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Asheville?
Pay in Asheville runs from entry-level positions at around $22.65 an hour to more than $49.90 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Asheville
| Career stage | Asheville | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,100$22.65 an hour | $63,940$30.74 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $81,500$39.18 an hour | $79,460$38.20 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $82,250$39.54 an hour | $85,120$40.93 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $88,360$42.48 an hour | $95,920$46.12 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $103,790$49.90 an hour | $101,240$48.67 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Asheville area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Asheville
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Asheville area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Asheville was $59,350 a year. By 2025 it had reached $82,250, a change of +39%, compared with +29% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Asheville compares with other North Carolina cities
Norfolk pays MRI Techs the most in North Carolina at $95,950 a year, $13,700 more than Asheville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Fayetteville at $79,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Asheville | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $95,950 | $46.13 | +17% | 160 |
| 2 | Charlotte | $90,930 | $43.72 | +11% | 280 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $86,870 | $41.77 | +6% | 130 |
| 4 | Morganton | $86,130 | $41.41 | +5% | 30 |
| 5 | Wilmington | $83,650 | $40.22 | +2% | 70 |
| 6 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $83,030 | $39.92 | +1% | 130 |
| 7 | Asheville | $82,250 | $39.54 | this city | 50 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $81,890 | $39.37 | 0% | 60 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $79,460 | $38.20 | -3% | 30 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $85,120
Is Asheville a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Asheville earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $82,250 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Asheville area, about 0.3 are MRI Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.3. MRI Tech jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MRI Tech make in Asheville, NC?
- A typical MRI Tech in Asheville earns $82,250 a year, or $39.54 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,100 and the top 10% earn over $103,790.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Asheville?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Asheville is $39.54. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.65, and the top 10% earn over $49.90 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Asheville?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Asheville typically offer around $22.65 an hour, or $47,100 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Asheville higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Asheville pay is 3% below the North Carolina figure of $85,120 a year, ranking 7th of 9 metro areas in the state. Norfolk pays the most in North Carolina at $95,950.