How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Chattanooga, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Chattanooga, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chattanooga metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Chattanooga, Tennessee earns $36.94 per hour, or $76,840 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,403 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,350, and the top 10% of earners make over $89,220.
That pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $78,610 and 20% below the national figure of $95,480. Chattanooga ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in Tennessee for MRI Tech pay. About 170 MRI Techs work in the Chattanooga area.
MRI Tech pay in Chattanooga at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.94 an hour, or $76,840 a year.
- That is 2% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,350; the top 10% make over $89,220.
- Typical pay rose +27% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Chattanooga?
Pay in Chattanooga runs from entry-level positions at around $29.50 an hour to more than $42.90 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 Chattanooga
| Career stage | Chattanooga | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $61,350$29.50 an hour | $62,310$29.96 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $62,440$30.02 an hour | $67,630$32.52 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $76,840$36.94 an hour | $78,610$37.79 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,890$37.93 an hour | $82,770$39.79 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $89,220$42.90 an hour | $97,870$47.05 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chattanooga area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Chattanooga
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Chattanooga area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Chattanooga was $60,460 a year. By 2025 it had reached $76,840, a change of +27%, compared with +37% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Chattanooga compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays MRI Techs the most in Tennessee at $82,470 a year, $5,630 more than Chattanooga. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kingsport at $74,910.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chattanooga | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $82,470 | $39.65 | +7% | 350 |
| 2 | Memphis | $80,790 | $38.84 | +5% | 270 |
| 3 | Knoxville | $77,080 | $37.06 | 0% | 190 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $76,840 | $36.94 | this city | 170 |
| 5 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $74,910 | $36.02 | -3% | 80 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $78,610
Is Chattanooga a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Chattanooga earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $76,840 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chattanooga area, about 0.6 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 Chattanooga, TN?
- A typical MRI Tech in Chattanooga earns $76,840 a year, or $36.94 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $61,350 and the top 10% earn over $89,220.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Chattanooga?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Chattanooga is $36.94. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.50, and the top 10% earn over $42.90 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Chattanooga?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Chattanooga typically offer around $29.50 an hour, or $61,350 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Chattanooga higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Chattanooga pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $78,610 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $82,470.