Quick answer:Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists in Tennessee earn a median $78,610 per year, below the national median of $95,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 1,350 of them. Licensing runs through your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
MRI Technology Pay and Employment in Tennessee at a Glance
Metric
Tennessee
National
Source
Median annual wage
$78,610
$95,480
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$62,310
$68,890
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$67,630
$81,040
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$82,770
$106,340
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$97,870
$127,670
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
1,350
43,390
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.47
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
7.1%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Tennessee Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Tennessee median of $78,610 sits below the national median of $95,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.47 puts Tennessee well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. MRI positions concentrate in hospitals and dedicated imaging centers, so the local market depends on scanner capacity rather than on population alone.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), magnetic resonance imaging technologists wages in Tennessee vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin
350
$82,470
$84,400
$64,860
$107,880
Memphis
270
$80,790
$81,100
$67,630
$97,460
Knoxville
190
$77,080
$75,580
$62,870
$91,850
Chattanooga
170
$76,840
$74,290
$61,350
$89,220
Kingsport-Bristol
80
$74,910
$78,200
$66,590
$95,330
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
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.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state radiologic health or medical imaging board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
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 92 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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage for magnetic resonance imaging technologists in Tennessee is $78,610, below the national median of $95,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $67,630 at the 25th percentile to $82,770 at the 75th.
How many magnetic resonance imaging technologists work in Tennessee?
Tennessee holds about 1,350 MRI technologist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 43,390, and BLS projects about 2,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a MRI technologist in Tennessee?
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. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state radiologic health or medical imaging board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a JRCERT-accredited program with ARRT certification online while working in Tennessee?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
What is the highest-paying area of Tennessee for magnetic resonance imaging technologists?
Among Tennessee metro areas with published data, Nashville reports the highest median at $82,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for magnetic resonance imaging technologists?
On pay, the state median of $78,610 sits below the national $95,480 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.47 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
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/.
