Great Hospitals & Employers for MRI Technologists in 2020

Doctors utilize MRIs to see inside patients’ bodies without having to perform surgery. By using magnets and radiofrequency these state of the art machines can give a full picture of bones, organs, and tissue. Running this equipment effectively to get the most accurate image is done by trained MRI technologists.

MRI technologists have graduated from high school and have completed an MRI technologist education program or received on-the-job training. Certification in this career is voluntary but highly recommended, as many employers may require it. Only a handful of states currently require MRI technologists to be licensed.

Currently, there is a growing demand for MRI technologists. Between 2018 and 2028, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019) projects there will be a 9 percent growth in jobs in this field. That translates to over 23,000 new jobs. In the US, there are over 38,500 MRI technologists working in clinics, hospitals, and diagnostic centers. Wages for this field vary based on education, place of employment, certifications, and years of work experience.

There are employers across the country currently looking to hire MRI technologists. The best jobs in this field offer competitive benefits, opportunities for advancement, education incentives, sign-on bonuses, and more. Here is a list of great healthcare companies job-hunting MRI technologists should consider in 2020.

UCLA Health

Located in sunny Los Angeles, UCLA Health has been a leader in the health care industry for over 60 years. UCLA Health hospitals are well-respected and ranked number one in LA and California and number six in the nation, according to US News & World Report (2020). MRI technologists working for UCLA Health earn $44.17 to $58.25 per hour, which is well above national wages for this career.

Employees at UCLA health have a high-quality health insurance plan, generous retirement plans with employer contributions of 8 percent per pay period, and a pension plan. Other benefits of working here include child care resources, tuition discounts for UCLA extension courses, access to a ScholarShare College Savings Plan, and library privileges at all UCLA libraries.

Mayo Clinic

With major campuses in Rochester, Minnesota, Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Florida, MRI technicians working for the Mayo Clinic have a wide variety of locations to choose from. The reputation of the Mayo Clinic is for taking challenging to diagnose or treat cases, giving MRI technicians the opportunity to participate in one of a kind cases routinely. It is ranked the number one hospital in the US and in each state it boasts a hospital (US News & World Report).

Beyond have the prestige of the Mayo Clinic on their resume, MRI technicians who work here have many other benefits. New hires are offered relocation assistance to help them move close to their hospitals. All employees receive tuition assistance for continued education, top-of-the-line health insurance, life insurance, pensions, and access to retirement savings. Paid time off starts at a generous four-and-a-half weeks the first year of hire and bumps up to five-and-a-half weeks on the employee’s second anniversary. The Mayo Clinic also offers adoption assistance and college scholarships to employee’s dependents.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is the largest managed health care organization in the US, with over 120,000 employees and 12.4 million members. They are located in Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia.

Kaiser is a leader in healthcare with a commitment to excellence, research, innovative approaches, and new technology. MRI techs who work at Kaiser will benefit from a diverse workforce with lots of room for upward mobility to any of the 700 clinics across the country.

Benefits for employees at Kaiser Permanente include medical insurance, retirement plans, tax-deferred savings plans, educational opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and generous paid time off. Also, employees at Kaiser have access to a one-on-one wellness coach, discounts for recreational activities, online mental health tools, and the opportunity to have “moving meetings” versus ones around a conference table.

Rush University Medical Center

Rush University Medical Center is a teaching hospital. Their mission is to improve the health of people through a combination of patient care, education, research, and community partnerships. MRI technologists who work here get to participate in not only helping patients with routine problems but also to join in on cutting edge medical research happening in places like the Alzheimer’s Disease Center or Brain Tumor Services.

Employees at Rush University Medical Center receive industry-standard benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, retirement, and tax-deferred savings accounts. Benefits that make working here enticing include four weeks of paid paternity/maternity/adoption leave; the We Care Grant, which provides financial assistance to employees facing an emergency; $1,000 of education assistance to full-time employees; and two wellness days per year for personal errands or mental health days.

Cleveland Clinic

While the Cleveland Clinic is based in Cleveland, Ohio, there are clinics and hospitals affiliated with it all over the world, including in Canada, England, and Abu Dhabi. MRI technologists who chose to work for the Cleveland Clinic have no end of locations to transfer to or upward mobility within this significant health care company.

MRI technologists are required to be certified to work for the Cleveland Clinic. They must obtain the advanced certification of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: R.T.(MR) from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) within one year. This testing may be reimbursable through their Career Development fund.

Additional benefits for employees here include tuition reimbursement, health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, free membership to Cleveland Clinic fitness centers, adoption assistance, and more.

University of Washington

The medical services provided at the University of Washington are top-of-the-line. It is recognized as the best hospital in the state by US News & World Report as well as ranked number four nationally for rehabilitation care. With eight centers spread across Washington, MRI techs will have the opportunity to work in a variety of clinics and with diverse patients.

MRI technicians who work for the University of Washington Medicine earn $41 to $59 an hour, which is above the 75th percentile for earnings in this field. In addition to traditional benefits such as retirement plans, health insurance, and life insurance, employees here have access to many unique perks, including UW CareLink, which provides access to guidance counselors 24/7. Not only are these counselors trained to help with mental health, but they can also offer legal advice, financial guidance, and traumatic incident response services.

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

This 609-bed teaching hospital affiliated with Georgetown University prioritizes whole patient compassionate care. This hospital has a strong reputation for excellence rooted in research, innovation, and technology. MRI technologists employed here earn between $77,000 and $110,000 a year, which is in the top 50 percent of wages for this career. Located in Washington D.C., MRI technologists working here are living in one of the most vibrant cities in the country.

Benefits at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital that make working here enticing include fitness club discounts, recognition awards, education assistance, relocation reimbursements for moves over 50 miles, and free continuing education. In addition to these unique benefits, employees here have top of the line health insurance, generous retirement plans, paid leave, and flexible spending accounts.

University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System

One of the largest urban healthcare, educational, research, and technology districts in the country is the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. This system consists of one hospital, outpatient diagnostic and specialty clinics, and two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The whole system serves as the primary teaching center for the University of Illinois at Chicago Health Science Colleges. MRI technologists are employed all over the Chicago metropolitan area.

Since this health system is serviced by a teaching hospital, MRI technologists here have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge case management and hands-on learning while engaging in their daily work.

Employees working here are considered state employees, thereby getting access to high-quality state health insurance, disability insurance, and retirement benefits. Additional employee benefits include adoption assistance, weight loss support, smoking cessation programs, and tuition waivers to state universities.

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Working in health care with the US Department of Veterans Affairs can be a gratifying job. Veterans, who have been discharged from service for any reason other than dishonorable, are entitled to medical care services from a network of clinics and hospitals across the country. MRI techs work at these clinics and hospitals to help diagnose illnesses in veterans either from daily life or from active duty.

Pay for MRI technicians at Veterans Affairs is competitive, with most positions earning an estimated $58,000 to $75,000 a year. Generous paid time off begins accruing from the moment an employee starts at Veterans Affairs and includes up to 26 days of vacation, 13 sick days, and 10 federal holidays per year.

One of the top benefits of working for Veterans Affairs is access to the highly regarded Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which includes up to a 5 percent match on contributions made to retirement accounts.

Titan Medical

MRI technologists interested in traveling should consider applying to work at Titan Medical, which is a medical staffing agency. Working at Titan Medical allows MRI technologists to work for one company but have the ease of moving around the country as a traveling allied health professional. Titan Medical prioritizes giving their staff the tools, training, and resources to be successful in their roles no matter where they are working.

Working for Titan Medical means switching job locations does not mean changing health insurance, retirement plans, or life insurance. Additionally, there is reimbursement for licensing fees, up to $300 continuing education reimbursement, and bonuses for referring new employees.

Kimmy Gustafson
Kimmy Gustafson Writer

With her passion for uncovering the latest innovations and trends, Kimmy Gustafson has provided valuable insights and has interviewed experts to provide readers with the latest information in the rapidly evolving field of medical technology since 2019. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.