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Boston Career Explorer

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

Also called: MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator), MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator), MRI Radiographer (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiographer), MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist), MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician), MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$123,910
$59.57/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,160
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+2.7%
80 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Associate's degree
Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$61,510$99,410$123,910$134,710$149,430

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Review physicians' orders to confirm prescribed exams.
  • Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos.
  • Select appropriate imaging techniques or coils to produce required images.
  • Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.
  • Provide headphones or earplugs to patients to improve comfort and reduce unpleasant noise.
  • Position patients on cradle, attaching immobilization devices, if needed, to ensure appropriate placement for imaging.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure42 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 44
  • Language-model AIOE 43
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 39

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI tools can help with some of the planning and computer work in this job, like checking orders, choosing imaging settings, and entering data. Some observed AI use exists already. Screening patients for safety risks, running the scanner, and keeping people comfortable still need a trained person.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing orders and confirming exams
  • Choosing imaging techniques and entering scan data

Still relies on people

  • Screening patients for safety risks
  • Comforting patients during loud scans

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

2 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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