Prevailing Wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists work under DOL occupational code SOC 29-2035, which also covers roles filed as MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) and MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist). DOL sets four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the prevailing wage floor varies significantly by city and metro area.
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Level 1 covers entry-level MRI techs with limited experience, typically recent graduates or those new to clinical MRI environments. Work is performed under close supervision, with a narrow scope of scanning protocols and minimal independent decision-making.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for MRI technologists. It applies to qualified professionals with moderate experience who perform standard scanning protocols with some independence, requiring only general supervision rather than close oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced MRI technologists who handle complex cases, advanced sequences, or specialized scanning protocols with significant autonomy. These professionals often mentor junior staff and may coordinate scanning workflows across a department.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior MRI technologists in lead or supervisory roles. This level fits professionals who set protocols, oversee quality assurance programs, and may hold credentials such as MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator) responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
Watch how staffing agencies file MRI roles
MRI techs placed through travel nursing or imaging staffing agencies are often filed at Level 1 regardless of experience, because the worksite employer is technically not the petitioner. Confirm which entity signs the LCA and which wage level is cited before accepting a sponsored travel assignment.
Know why California metros set the ceiling
Vallejo, San Jose, and San Francisco consistently post the highest prevailing wages for this occupation due to concentrated hospital systems, union wage scales, and high regional OES survey results. An offer in those metros below the L2 floor warrants scrutiny before you sign.
Understand the MRI Coordinator title aliasing risk
Roles titled MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator) are sometimes filed under administrative SOC codes rather than SOC 29-2035, which carries a lower prevailing wage. Verify that your LCA cites SOC 29-2035 to ensure the correct clinical wage floor applies.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with MRI sponsorship history
Hospital systems and outpatient imaging centers sponsor MRI technologists at very different rates. Migrate Mate shows which employers have an active record of sponsoring this role, so you can focus your search on organizations already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process.
Jobs for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-2035.00 alongside Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator) Prevailing Wage
MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator) Prevailing Wage
MRI Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coordinator) positions fall under SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator) Prevailing Wage
MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a MRI QA Coordinator (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quality Assurance Coordinator) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
MRI Radiographer (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiographer) Prevailing Wage
MRI Radiographer (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiographer) Prevailing Wage
MRI Radiographer (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiographer) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist) Prevailing Wage
MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist) Prevailing Wage
MRI Specialist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Specialist) positions fall under SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician) Prevailing Wage
MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a MRI Tech (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technician) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) Prevailing Wage
MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) Prevailing Wage
MRI Technologist (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Research MRI Technologist (Research Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) Prevailing Wage
Research MRI Technologist (Research Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) Prevailing Wage
Research MRI Technologist (Research Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist) positions fall under SOC 29-2035.00 (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for MRI technologists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, combined with OFLC's four-level methodology, to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 29-2035. The agency surveys employers across every major metro area and sets four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. An employer filing an LCA must pay at least the prevailing wage for the level that matches the actual job duties.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I identify which applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision. Level 2 is a qualified technologist working with general oversight, which is the most common level for sponsored MRI roles. Level 3 covers experienced staff with significant autonomy, and Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead positions. Your level should match your actual duties and supervision requirements, not just your years of experience. Review the LCA your employer files to confirm the cited level aligns with what the job actually involves.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same MRI tech role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using regional OES survey data, so the floor reflects local market conditions rather than a national average. A dense market like San Jose or Seattle has higher survey responses from well-paying hospital systems, pushing the regional floor up. The LCA must cite the wage for the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters, so a tech assigned to a California imaging center cannot be paid at a lower-wage metro's rate even if the company is based elsewhere.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored MRI technologist position?
An employer cannot legally file an LCA at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the cited SOC code and worksite location. If the offer is below the floor, either the employer must raise the salary before filing, or the LCA will not certify. For H-1B and green card sponsored positions, USCIS and OFLC review wage compliance as part of the petition process, and a deficient wage is grounds for denial or an RFE.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an MRI technologist role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 29-2035 for any of the 530-plus covered metro areas. Enter the occupation code and the worksite location to retrieve the four wage levels for that area. Cross-reference against your offer letter and the LCA your employer provides. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored MRI technologist roles in a given region, so you can benchmark offers against companies with active sponsorship records.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists right now.
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