How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston · North Charleston metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Charleston, South Carolina earns $41.00 per hour, or $85,270 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,106 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,980, and the top 10% of earners make over $93,870.
That pay is 2% above the South Carolina figure of $83,550 and 11% below the national figure of $95,480. Charleston ranks 4th of 6 metro areas in South Carolina for MRI Tech pay. About 170 MRI Techs work in the Charleston · North Charleston area. Charleston is part of the Charleston · North Charleston metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so North Charleston share these figures.
MRI Tech pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $41.00 an hour, or $85,270 a year.
- That is 2% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,980; the top 10% make over $93,870.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $31.72 an hour to more than $45.13 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $65,980$31.72 an hour | $65,980$31.72 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $77,200$37.12 an hour | $76,750$36.90 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $85,270$41.00 an hour | $83,550$40.17 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,870$45.13 an hour | $93,450$44.93 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $93,870$45.13 an hour | $96,230$46.27 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Charleston · North Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Charleston was $58,490 a year. By 2025 it had reached $85,270, a change of +46%, compared with +41% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Concord pays MRI Techs the most in South Carolina at $90,930 a year, $5,660 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Richmond County at $82,200.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $90,930 | $43.72 | +7% | 280 |
| 2 | Greer metro incl. Greenville · Anderson | $86,370 | $41.52 | +1% | 130 |
| 3 | Columbia | $85,560 | $41.14 | 0% | 130 |
| 4 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $85,270 | $41.00 | this city | 170 |
| 5 | Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · North Myrtle Beach | $85,240 | $40.98 | 0% | 60 |
| 6 | Richmond County | $82,200 | $39.52 | -4% | 90 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $83,550
Is Charleston a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $85,270 a year, 11% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston 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 Charleston, SC?
- A typical MRI Tech in Charleston earns $85,270 a year, or $41.00 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $65,980 and the top 10% earn over $93,870.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Charleston is $41.00. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.72, and the top 10% earn over $45.13 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Charleston?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Charleston typically offer around $31.72 an hour, or $65,980 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is 2% above the South Carolina figure of $83,550 a year, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state. Concord pays the most in South Carolina at $90,930.