California · BLS SOC 29-2035
MRI Technologist salary in California
Median $111,410 · Top 10% earn $156,040+ · Roughly 5,492 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- California median
- $111,410
- $53.56/hr
- Top 10%
- $156,040
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $76,780
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $97,900
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)
California pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for mri technologists — $111,410 versus the national median of $84,400. Even after adjusting for California's high cost of living, the real pay still leads the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 5,492 mri technologists.
What drives mri technologist pay in California
California MRI techs earn the highest wages in the U.S. — Bay Area academic medical centers (UCSF, Stanford, UCLA) clear $140K+, with senior cardiac MR and breast MR specialty techs earning $150K+. Title 22 staffing rules and union density drive the premium.
Top-paying metros in California
California-area metropolitan areas with the highest mri technologist medians.
California metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $138,200 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $141,800 |
| 3 | Vallejo, CA | $144,100 |
| 4 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $124,500 |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $117,800 |
California ranks #1 of 50 states
Where California sits in the national distribution for mri technologist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California (this page) | $111,410 | — |
| #2 | Washington | $102,970 | −$8,440 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $102,120 | −$9,290 |
| #4 | Oregon | $101,280 | −$10,130 |
Find MRI Technologist programs near you
We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.
Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.
Education path for California
The typical path is a associate degree + arrt(r) + arrt(mr) post-primary certification, taking about 24 months. Tuition ranges from $6,000 (community college) to $42,000 (private accelerated). On the California median of $111,410, payback periods are typically 0.5 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.
For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the MRI Technologist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.
MRI Technologist salary in California — FAQ
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Methodology note
California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2035: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.