Quick answer:Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in the Charleston area earn a median $85,270 per year, below the national median of $95,480, and the metro employs about 170 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
MRI Technology Pay in Charleston, SC
Metric
Charleston metro
South Carolina
National
Median annual wage
$85,270
$83,550
$95,480
10th percentile
$65,980
$65,980
$68,890
25th percentile
$77,200
$76,750
$81,040
75th percentile
$93,870
$93,450
$106,340
90th percentile
$93,870
$96,230
$127,670
Employment
170
730
43,390
Location quotient
1.59
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Charleston median of $85,270 is below the national median of $95,480, and above the South Carolina statewide median of $83,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.59 means magnetic resonance imaging technologists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
MRI positions concentrate in hospitals and dedicated imaging centers, so the local market depends on scanner capacity rather than on population alone.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Requirements for medical imaging personnel are set at state level, and states differ in whether they license imaging technologists separately, recognize certification instead, or regulate the modality at all. The national constants are programmatic accreditation through JRCERT and certification through the ARRT in magnetic resonance imaging, reached either by a post-primary pathway from radiography or a primary pathway.
See the South Carolina licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 1 school
within 196 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
1 of them carries a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do magnetic resonance imaging technologists make in Charleston?
The median annual wage for magnetic resonance imaging technologists in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $85,270, below the national median of $95,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many magnetic resonance imaging technologists work in the Charleston area?
The Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area employs about 170 magnetic resonance imaging technologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do magnetic resonance imaging technologists in Charleston need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Requirements for medical imaging personnel are set at state level, and states differ in whether they license imaging technologists separately, recognize certification instead, or regulate the modality at all. The national constants are programmatic accreditation through JRCERT and certification through the ARRT in magnetic resonance imaging, reached either by a post-primary pathway from radiography or a primary pathway. Confirm current requirements with your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
Can I study mri technology online from Charleston?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
Is Charleston a better market than the rest of South Carolina?
The Charleston metro median is $85,270 against a statewide median of $83,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (SOC 29-2035), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
