CA · Oakland · Updated October 15, 2026

MRI Technologist jobs in Oakland, CA

Pay for MRI Technologists in the Oakland area centers on $70.90 per hour, or about $147,480 a year. The lower quarter earns under $50.02 and the upper quarter over $82.10. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Oakland. That ranks 3rd of 163 U.S. metro areas for MRI Technologist pay, and 3rd of 160 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Oakland and what they pay.

Open MRI Technologist roles near Oakland

Roles in other cities of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area.

PermanentPosted 17 days ago

MRI Technologist

RadNet · San Francisco, CA

$38.00–$58.00/ hour
  • RadNet Medical Imaging – San Francisco O
  • Req 22097
View role
PermanentPosted 17 days ago

MRI Technologist

RadNet · Walnut Creek, CA

$38.00–$58.00/ hour
  • NorCal Imaging Centers Onsite USD $38.00
  • Req 22102
View role

Get the Oakland MRI Technologist pay report

Named employers near Oakland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring MRI Technologists near Oakland

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
RadNet2$48
MarinHealth1$67.90

MRI Technologist pay in Oakland, CA

The metro median is 20% above the California statewide median of $58.88 per hour. Nationally the median is $42.40 per hour. BLS counts about 370 magnetic resonance imaging technologists employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.57).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$39.70$82,5806% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$50.02$104,04018% above U.S. median
Median$70.90$147,48067% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$82.10$170,77094% above U.S. median
Top 10%$85.60$178,050102% above U.S. median

How Oakland ranks

  • 3rd of 163 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 3rd of 160 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 12 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (SOC 29-2035), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Oakland

  • Overall prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont run 16% above the U.S. average (index 115.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 95% above the U.S. average (index 194.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $70.90 median hour buys what $61.33 buys at the national price level, 45% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Oakland paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,552
  • Per year: $127,620
  • Per month: $10,635

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Oakland

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$145
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,659
13-week assignment$21,567

Travel MRI Technologist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Oakland

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Oakland, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of MRI Technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Oakland, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond
Oakland, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Highland Hospital
Oakland, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal1 of 5Yes
Ucsf Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Oakland, CA
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Telecare Heritage Psychiatric Health Facility
Oakland, CA
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

MRI Technologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Alameda, CA3 mi$70.90/hr78,795
San Leandro, CA6 mi$70.90/hr86,571

MRI Technologist jobs in California · MRI Technologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

ARRT certification in MRI, or ARRT radiography with MRI training. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Oakland

Oakland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do MRI Technologists make in Oakland, CA?

MRI Technologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area have a median pay of $70.90 per hour, about $147,480 a year. The middle half earn between $50.02 and $82.10 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Oakland a good place for MRI Technologists once cost of living is counted?

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 3rd of 160 metro areas for MRI Technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 3rd of 163 before adjusting. Overall prices run 16% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring MRI Technologists in Oakland?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Oakland.

Do I need a California license to work in Oakland as an MRI Technologist?

ARRT certification in MRI, or ARRT radiography with MRI training. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Oakland?

The federal per diem benchmark in Oakland is $145 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,659 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place MRI Technologists in Oakland?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Oakland and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Oakland.

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What do employers near Oakland pay MRI Technologists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · MRI Tech near Oakland, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your MRI Tech pay reportOakland, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$85.74/ hr$76–$96
  • CommonSpirit HealthGLENDALE, CA · 2 postings$70.14/ hr$69–$71
  • University of Southern CaliforniaTorrance, CA · 2 postings$61.03/ hr$46–$76
  • RadNetElk Grove, CA · 14 postings$33.00/ hr$24–$58

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$26Median$48.00High$71

23 MRI Tech postings with published pay in California, 19 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 23 MRI Tech roles

  1. MRI TechnologistPermanent
    $38.00–$58.00/ hour
    RadNet · Stockton, CA · posted today
  2. MRI TechnologistPermanent
    $38.00–$58.00/ hour
    RadNet · Elk Grove, CA · posted today

+ 21 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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