How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Chesapeake, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Chesapeake, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Chesapeake, North Carolina earns $46.13 per hour, or $95,950 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,996 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $77,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $99,750.
That pay is 13% above the North Carolina figure of $85,120 and right at the national figure of $95,480. Chesapeake ranks 1st of 9 metro areas in North Carolina for MRI Tech pay. About 160 MRI Techs work in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area. Chesapeake is part of the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Norfolk share these figures.
MRI Tech pay in Chesapeake at a glance
- Typical pay is $46.13 an hour, or $95,950 a year.
- That is 13% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $77,310; the top 10% make over $99,750.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Chesapeake?
Pay in Chesapeake runs from entry-level positions at around $37.17 an hour to more than $47.96 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 Chesapeake
| Career stage | Chesapeake | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $77,310$37.17 an hour | $63,940$30.74 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $79,260$38.11 an hour | $79,460$38.20 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $95,950$46.13 an hour | $85,120$40.93 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $98,320$47.27 an hour | $95,920$46.12 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $99,750$47.96 an hour | $101,240$48.67 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area as BLS defines it
How Chesapeake compares with other North Carolina cities
Chesapeake pays MRI Techs the most of any metro area in North Carolina. The lowest-paying area in the state is Fayetteville at $79,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chesapeake | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $95,950 | $46.13 | this city | 160 |
| 2 | Charlotte | $90,930 | $43.72 | -5% | 280 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $86,870 | $41.77 | -9% | 130 |
| 4 | Morganton | $86,130 | $41.41 | -10% | 30 |
| 5 | Wilmington | $83,650 | $40.22 | -13% | 70 |
| 6 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $83,030 | $39.92 | -13% | 130 |
| 7 | Asheville | $82,250 | $39.54 | -14% | 50 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $81,890 | $39.37 | -15% | 60 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $79,460 | $38.20 | -17% | 30 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $85,120
Is Chesapeake a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Tech pay in Chesapeake sits close to the national figure: $95,950 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk 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 Chesapeake, NC?
- A typical MRI Tech in Chesapeake earns $95,950 a year, or $46.13 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $77,310 and the top 10% earn over $99,750.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Chesapeake?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Chesapeake is $46.13. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.17, and the top 10% earn over $47.96 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Chesapeake?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Chesapeake typically offer around $37.17 an hour, or $77,310 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Chesapeake higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Chesapeake pay is 13% above the North Carolina figure of $85,120 a year, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.