PermanentPosted today
MRI Technologist
RadNet · Stockton, CA
$38.00–$58.00/ hour
New this week
MRI Technologist jobs in San Diego, CA
The median MRI Technologist pay in the San Diego area is $59.54 per hour ($123,850 a year), with the typical range running from $48.12 to $65.96. That ranks 6th of 163 U.S. metro areas for MRI Technologist pay, and 10th of 160 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in San Diego. The free report below lists employers near San Diego and what they pay.
- $59.54median pay per hour, San Diego
- $48–$66typical range per hour
- 270MRI Technologists employed in the metro area
- 112cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
MRI Technologist pay in San Diego, CA
The metro median is 1% above the California statewide median of $58.88 per hour. Nationally the median is $42.40 per hour. BLS counts about 270 magnetic resonance imaging technologists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.66).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $34.05 | $70,820 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $48.12 | $100,090 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Median | $59.54 | $123,850 | 40% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $65.96 | $137,200 | 56% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $72.99 | $151,820 | 72% above U.S. median |
How San Diego ranks
- 6th of 163 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 10th of 160 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th 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 San Diego
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $59.54 median hour buys what $53.21 buys at the national price level, 26% 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.
Get the San Diego MRI Technologist pay report
Named employers near San Diego, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your San Diego paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,143
- Per year: $107,172
- Per month: $8,931
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in San Diego
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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).
Open MRI Technologist roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in San Diego as they open.
PermanentPosted today
MRI Technologist
RadNet · Elk Grove, CA
$38.00–$58.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more MRI Technologist roles for you in California
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Per diemPosted yesterday
MRI Tech - PRN
Akumin · Los Alamitos, CA
$40.00–$53.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
MRI Technologist
Marshall Medical Center · Placerville, CA
$59.28–$71.14/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
MRI Technologist
RadNet · Yucca Valley, CA
$30.00–$35.00/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 8 days ago
MRI Tech
CommonSpirit Health · Glendale, CA
$69.15–$69.15/ hour
Top 25% pay
Hospitals in San Diego
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, 5 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of MRI Technologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Aurora San Diego San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
MRI Technologist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 7 mi | $59.54/hr | 60,767 |
| Santee, CA | 9 mi | $59.54/hr | 59,104 |
| Temecula, CA | 47 mi | $47.25/hr | 112,431 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in San Diego
San Diego city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do MRI Technologists make in San Diego, CA?
MRI Technologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $59.54 per hour, about $123,850 a year. The middle half earn between $48.12 and $65.96 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is San Diego a good place for MRI Technologists once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 10th of 160 metro areas for MRI Technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 6th of 163 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Where do MRI Technologists work in San Diego?
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, led by Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in San Diego 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 San Diego?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Diego is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place MRI Technologists in San Diego?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Diego and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Diego.
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What do employers near San Diego pay MRI Technologists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ MRI Technologist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your MRI Tech pay reportSan Diego, 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
- MRI TechnologistPermanent$38.00–$58.00/ hour
- MRI TechnologistPermanent$38.00–$58.00/ hour
+ 21 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.