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.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Monitoring
Speaking
Operations Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Operation and Control
Writing

Key knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
English Language
Physics
Computers and Electronics
Medicine and Dentistry
Public Safety and Security
Education and Training
Biology

What the work involves

Attach physiological monitoring leads to patient's finger, chest, waist, or other body parts.
Calibrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) console or peripheral hardware.
Conduct screening interviews of patients to identify contraindications, such as ferrous objects, pregnancy, prosthetic heart valves, cardiac pacemakers, or tattoos.
Connect physiological leads to physiological acquisition control (PAC) units.
Create backup copies of images by transferring images from disk to storage media or workstation.
Explain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures to patients, patient representatives, or family members.
Intravenously inject contrast dyes, such as gadolinium contrast, in accordance with scope of practice.
Inspect images for quality, using magnetic resonance scanner equipment and laser camera.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Conventional, Investigative.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (65.2% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (26.1%)
On-the-job training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (39.1%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 3: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	High	Higher on contact with others than 70% of occupations compared	74% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others”
Dealing with the public	Moderate	Higher on dealing with the public than 52% of occupations compared	39% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Teamwork	Low	Lower on teamwork than 77% of occupations compared	43% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Freedom to make decisions	High	Higher on freedom to make decisions than 66% of occupations compared	52% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Moderate	Higher on time pressure than 54% of occupations compared	48% of surveyed respondents chose “Every day”
Conflict situations	High	Higher on conflict situations than 67% of occupations compared	36% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Very high	Higher on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 93% of occupations compared	39% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day”
Consequence of error	Very high	Higher on consequence of error than 89% of occupations compared	52% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: moderate
Conflict situations: high
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very high
Consequence of error: very high

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions