How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Knoxville, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for MRI Techs in Knoxville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Knoxville metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Knoxville, Tennessee earns $37.06 per hour, or $77,080 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,423 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $62,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $91,850.
That pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $78,610 and 19% below the national figure of $95,480. Knoxville ranks 3rd of 5 metro areas in Tennessee for MRI Tech pay. About 190 MRI Techs work in the Knoxville area.
MRI Tech pay in Knoxville at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.06 an hour, or $77,080 a year.
- That is 2% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $62,870; the top 10% make over $91,850.
- Typical pay rose +45% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MRI Tech make in Knoxville?
Pay in Knoxville runs from entry-level positions at around $30.23 an hour to more than $44.16 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 Knoxville
| Career stage | Knoxville | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $62,870$30.23 an hour | $62,310$29.96 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $66,130$31.79 an hour | $67,630$32.52 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $77,080$37.06 an hour | $78,610$37.79 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,690$37.83 an hour | $82,770$39.79 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $91,850$44.16 an hour | $97,870$47.05 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Knoxville area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Knoxville
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Knoxville area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Knoxville was $53,340 a year. By 2025 it had reached $77,080, a change of +45%, compared with +37% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Knoxville compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays MRI Techs the most in Tennessee at $82,470 a year, $5,390 more than Knoxville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kingsport at $74,910.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Knoxville | 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 | this city | 190 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $76,840 | $36.94 | 0% | 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 Knoxville a good place to work as an MRI Tech?
MRI Techs in Knoxville earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $77,080 a year, 19% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Knoxville 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 Knoxville, TN?
- A typical MRI Tech in Knoxville earns $77,080 a year, or $37.06 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $62,870 and the top 10% earn over $91,850.
- How much does an MRI Tech make an hour in Knoxville?
- Typical hourly pay for MRI Techs in Knoxville is $37.06. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.23, and the top 10% earn over $44.16 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MRI Tech in Knoxville?
- Entry-level MRI Tech positions in Knoxville typically offer around $30.23 an hour, or $62,870 a year.
- Is MRI Tech pay in Knoxville higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Knoxville pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $78,610 a year, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $82,470.