How Much Does an MRI Tech Make in Bristol, VA 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 Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical MRI Tech in Bristol, Virginia 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 24% below the Virginia figure of $98,640 and 22% below the national figure of $95,480. Bristol ranks 5th of 5 metro areas in Virginia for MRI Tech pay. About 80 MRI Techs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
MRI Tech pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.02 an hour, or $74,910 a year.
- That is 24% below the Virginia 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.
- Typical pay rose +36% from 2015 to 2025, against +44% for Virginia as a whole.
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 Virginia and national figures.
MRI Tech pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $66,590$32.01 an hour | $78,400$37.69 an hour | $68,890$33.12 an hour |
| First years | $74,840$35.98 an hour | $85,770$41.24 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour |
| Typical MRI Tech | $74,910$36.02 an hour | $98,640$47.42 an hour | $95,480$45.91 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,300$37.64 an hour | $108,350$52.09 an hour | $106,340$51.12 an hour |
| Top 10% | $95,330$45.83 an hour | $121,940$58.63 an hour | $127,670$61.38 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
MRI Tech pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for MRI Techs in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical MRI Tech pay in Bristol was $55,140 a year. By 2025 it had reached $74,910, a change of +36%, compared with +44% for Virginia over the same years.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays MRI Techs the most in Virginia at $109,110 a year, $34,200 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $74,910.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | MRI Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $109,110 | $52.46 | +46% | 810 |
| 2 | Richmond | $98,680 | $47.44 | +32% | 160 |
| 3 | Virginia Beach | $95,950 | $46.13 | +28% | 160 |
| 4 | Winchester | $82,900 | $39.86 | +11% | 40 |
| 5 | Bristol | $74,910 | $36.02 | this city | 80 |
Every metro area in Virginia with MRI Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $98,640
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, VA?
- 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 Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 24% below the Virginia figure of $98,640 a year, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $109,110.