How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Wilmington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wilmington metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Wilmington, North Carolina earns $40.22 per hour, or $83,650 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,971 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,350, and the top 10% of earners make over $100,200.
That pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $85,120 and 12% below the national figure of $95,480. Wilmington ranks 5th of 9 metro areas in North Carolina for MRI Tech pay. About 70 MRI Techs work in the Wilmington area.
MRI Tech pay in Wilmington at a glance
- Typical pay is $40.22 an hour, or $83,650 a year.
- That is 2% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,350; the top 10% make over $100,200.
- Typical pay rose +30% from 2016 to 2025, against +29% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Wilmington?
Pay in Wilmington runs from entry-level positions at around $36.71 an hour to more than $48.17 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 Wilmington
| Career stage | Wilmington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $76,350$36.71 an hour | $63,940$30.74 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $81,120$39.00 an hour | $79,460$38.20 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $83,650$40.22 an hour | $85,120$40.93 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $100,200$48.17 an hour | $95,920$46.12 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $100,200$48.17 an hour | $101,240$48.67 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Wilmington area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Wilmington
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2016 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2016, typical MRI Tech pay in Wilmington was $64,160 a year. By 2025 it had reached $83,650, a change of +30%, compared with +29% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Wilmington compares with other North Carolina cities
Norfolk pays MRI Techs the most in North Carolina at $95,950 a year, $12,300 more than Wilmington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Fayetteville at $79,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wilmington | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $95,950 | $46.13 | +15% | 160 |
| 2 | Charlotte | $90,930 | $43.72 | +9% | 280 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $86,870 | $41.77 | +4% | 130 |
| 4 | Morganton | $86,130 | $41.41 | +3% | 30 |
| 5 | Wilmington | $83,650 | $40.22 | this city | 70 |
| 6 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $83,030 | $39.92 | -1% | 130 |
| 7 | Asheville | $82,250 | $39.54 | -2% | 50 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $81,890 | $39.37 | -2% | 60 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $79,460 | $38.20 | -5% | 30 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $85,120
Is Wilmington a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Wilmington earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $83,650 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Wilmington area, about 0.4 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 Wilmington, NC?
- A typical MRI Tech in Wilmington earns $83,650 a year, or $40.22 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $76,350 and the top 10% earn over $100,200.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Wilmington?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Wilmington is $40.22. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.71, and the top 10% earn over $48.17 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Wilmington?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Wilmington typically offer around $36.71 an hour, or $76,350 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Wilmington higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Wilmington pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $85,120 a year, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state. Norfolk pays the most in North Carolina at $95,950.