How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Cary, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Cary, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Raleigh · Cary metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Cary, North Carolina earns $39.92 per hour, or $83,030 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,919 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,580, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,740.
That pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $85,120 and 13% below the national figure of $95,480. Cary ranks 6th of 9 metro areas in North Carolina for MRI Tech pay. About 130 MRI Techs work in the Raleigh · Cary area. Cary is part of the Raleigh · Cary metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Raleigh share these figures.
MRI Tech pay in Cary at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.92 an hour, or $83,030 a year.
- That is 2% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 6th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,580; the top 10% make over $97,740.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Cary?
Pay in Cary runs from entry-level positions at around $23.84 an hour to more than $46.99 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 Cary
| Career stage | Cary | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,580$23.84 an hour | $63,940$30.74 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $72,340$34.78 an hour | $79,460$38.20 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $83,030$39.92 an hour | $85,120$40.93 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $91,340$43.91 an hour | $95,920$46.12 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,740$46.99 an hour | $101,240$48.67 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Raleigh · Cary area as BLS defines it
How Cary compares with other North Carolina cities
Norfolk pays MRI Techs the most in North Carolina at $95,950 a year, $12,920 more than Cary. The lowest-paying area in the state is Fayetteville at $79,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cary | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $95,950 | $46.13 | +16% | 160 |
| 2 | Charlotte | $90,930 | $43.72 | +10% | 280 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $86,870 | $41.77 | +5% | 130 |
| 4 | Morganton | $86,130 | $41.41 | +4% | 30 |
| 5 | Wilmington | $83,650 | $40.22 | +1% | 70 |
| 6 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $83,030 | $39.92 | this city | 130 |
| 7 | Asheville | $82,250 | $39.54 | -1% | 50 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $81,890 | $39.37 | -1% | 60 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $79,460 | $38.20 | -4% | 30 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $85,120
Is Cary a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Cary earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $83,030 a year, 13% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Raleigh · Cary area, about 0.2 are MRI Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.3. That makes MRI Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MRI Tech make in Cary, NC?
- A typical MRI Tech in Cary earns $83,030 a year, or $39.92 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $49,580 and the top 10% earn over $97,740.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Cary?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Cary is $39.92. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.84, and the top 10% earn over $46.99 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Cary?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Cary typically offer around $23.84 an hour, or $49,580 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Cary higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Cary pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $85,120 a year, ranking 6th of 9 metro areas in the state. Norfolk pays the most in North Carolina at $95,950.