How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Bristol, Tennessee earns $36.02 per hour, or $74,910 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,243 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,590, and the top 10% of earners make over $95,330.
That pay is 5% below the Tennessee figure of $78,610 and 22% below the national figure of $95,480. Bristol ranks 5th of 5 metro areas in Tennessee for MRI Tech pay. About 80 MRI Techs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
MRI Tech pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.02 an hour, or $74,910 a year.
- That is 5% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,590; the top 10% make over $95,330.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $32.01 an hour to more than $45.83 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $66,590$32.01 an hour | $62,310$29.96 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $74,840$35.98 an hour | $67,630$32.52 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $74,910$36.02 an hour | $78,610$37.79 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,300$37.64 an hour | $82,770$39.79 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $95,330$45.83 an hour | $97,870$47.05 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays MRI Techs the most in Tennessee at $82,470 a year, $7,560 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kingsport at $74,910.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $82,470 | $39.65 | +10% | 350 |
| 2 | Memphis | $80,790 | $38.84 | +8% | 270 |
| 3 | Knoxville | $77,080 | $37.06 | +3% | 190 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $76,840 | $36.94 | +3% | 170 |
| 5 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $74,910 | $36.02 | this city | 80 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $78,610
Is Bristol a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $74,910 a year, 22% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 0.7 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 Bristol, TN?
- A typical MRI Tech in Bristol earns $74,910 a year, or $36.02 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $66,590 and the top 10% earn over $95,330.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Bristol is $36.02. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.01, and the top 10% earn over $45.83 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Bristol?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Bristol typically offer around $32.01 an hour, or $66,590 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 5% below the Tennessee figure of $78,610 a year, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $82,470.