MRI Technicians-What They Do, How Much They Can Make, and What It Takes to Get into This Field

We have a very large population of baby boomers in this country that is rapidly approaching retirement age. As this large segment of our population ages they will require more medical care and because of that there will be a lot more jobs in the medical field becoming available for the foreseeable future. A position with increasing demand that also offers very good pay is that of an MRI technician so let’s discuss exactly what it is that they do, how much they can make and what it takes to become an MRI technician.

What does an MRI technician do?

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and it is a technique used to produce detailed images of the inner workings of the body. An MRI can produce two-dimensional or three-dimensional images and can be used on hard tissue or soft tissue which means that an MRI is useful in examining organs and muscles that cannot be examined with x-rays.

An MRI technician is the person that will be operating this equipment. A patient will see their physician when they have some type of ailment and an MRI technician will produce detailed images of a specific body part according to the physician’s instructions. The MRI tech will need to talk with patients to explain what is going to happen and to position the patient properly in order to get the best quality images.

How much money can you make as an MRI technician?

We checked a number of websites that compile information about salaries in a number of different professions. These websites consult with human resources departments and other professionals in many different industries to compile their data. After researching these websites we found that the average annual income for an MRI technician is approximately $65,000 per year. Of course there are a number of factors that will have an effect on how much you might be able to earn such as your level of education, experience, and which part of the country you live in. $65,000 annually is the average income and you probably won’t make that much when you are first starting out but you can certainly make a very respectable income in this profession.

What it takes to become an MRI technician

Because you will be working with patients in a hospital or clinical setting and you’ll be operating very expensive machinery you will certainly require some education. There are certification courses that can be completed in about one year but these courses are often made available to people that already have some experience in the medical field. You can get a job in this field with an Associates degree but to give yourself the best chance of landing a job you may want to pursue a bachelors degree. You will also need to register with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and you may need to get a license depending on which state you live in. There are currently 40 states that require licensing to work as an MRI technician.