How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Columbia, South Carolina earns $41.14 per hour, or $85,560 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,130 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,290, and the top 10% of earners make over $95,300.
That pay is 2% above the South Carolina figure of $83,550 and 10% below the national figure of $95,480. Columbia ranks 3rd of 6 metro areas in South Carolina for MRI Tech pay. About 130 MRI Techs work in the Columbia area.
MRI Tech pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $41.14 an hour, or $85,560 a year.
- That is 2% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 3rd of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,290; the top 10% make over $95,300.
- Typical pay rose +25% from 2016 to 2025, against +41% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $32.83 an hour to more than $45.82 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 Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $68,290$32.83 an hour | $65,980$31.72 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $78,710$37.84 an hour | $76,750$36.90 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $85,560$41.14 an hour | $83,550$40.17 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $92,320$44.39 an hour | $93,450$44.93 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $95,300$45.82 an hour | $96,230$46.27 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2016 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2016, typical MRI Tech pay in Columbia was $68,410 a year. By 2025 it had reached $85,560, a change of +25%, compared with +41% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Concord pays MRI Techs the most in South Carolina at $90,930 a year, $5,370 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Richmond County at $82,200.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $90,930 | $43.72 | +6% | 280 |
| 2 | Greer metro incl. Greenville · Anderson | $86,370 | $41.52 | +1% | 130 |
| 3 | Columbia | $85,560 | $41.14 | this city | 130 |
| 4 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $85,270 | $41.00 | 0% | 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 Columbia a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $85,560 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 0.3 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 Columbia, SC?
- A typical MRI Tech in Columbia earns $85,560 a year, or $41.14 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $68,290 and the top 10% earn over $95,300.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Columbia is $41.14. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.83, and the top 10% earn over $45.82 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Columbia?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Columbia typically offer around $32.83 an hour, or $68,290 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 2% above the South Carolina figure of $83,550 a year, ranking 3rd of 6 metro areas in the state. Concord pays the most in South Carolina at $90,930.