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Average MRI Technologist Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

An MRI technologist in United Kingdom earns about 55,700 GBP a year. That's 20% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 27,200 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 83,000 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does an MRI technologist make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
55,700 GBP
4,641 GBP per month
Lowest reported
27,200 GBP
2,266 GBP per month
Highest reported
83,000 GBP
6,916 GBP per month

A typical MRI technologist working in United Kingdom brings home around 4,641 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 27,200 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 83,000 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior MRI technologist working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the MRI technologist salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How MRI technologist pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all MRI technologists in United Kingdom earn less than 50,600 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 36,400 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 67,000 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of MRI technologists sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 27,200 GBP. The highest stretch to 83,000 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

27,200
Low
50,600
Median
83,000
High
36,400
25th
67,000
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

MRI technologist pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for an MRI technologist in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical MRI technologist salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    30,300 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +48% from previous
    44,800 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +27% from previous
    57,000 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +16% from previous
    66,100 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +12% from previous
    73,800 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +5% from previous
    77,300 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 0 - 2 Years to 2 - 5 Years, where pay rises by about 48%. That is the point at which a MRI technologist typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

MRI technologist pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving MRI technologist pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average MRI technologist salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Bachelor's Degree
    44,200 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +45% from previous
    64,300 GBP

MRI technologist gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male MRI technologists in United Kingdom earn an average of 54,500 GBP a year, while female MRI technologists earn around 51,900 GBP. That works out to a 5% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

MRI Technologist gender pay gap

5%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 54,500 GBP
Women 51,900 GBP

Pay raises for an MRI technologist in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 10% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 8% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

MRI technologist bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

55%

55% of MRI technologists in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes an MRI technologist a moderate-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5% of base salary. The remaining 45% of MRI technologists reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

MRI technologist: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

MRI technologist salary by city and region in United Kingdom

MRI technologist pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Leeds
  • Manchester
  • Birmingham
  • Cardiff
  • Sheffield
  • Edinburgh
  • Bradford
  • Liverpool
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion112,700 GBP109,000 GBP58,200-172,300 GBP
ScotlandRegion79,500 GBP74,100 GBP43,500-123,000 GBP
LeedsCity67,300 GBP73,100 GBP31,400-107,700 GBP
ManchesterCity66,900 GBP68,400 GBP32,200-105,200 GBP
BirminghamCity66,100 GBP73,300 GBP30,200-109,000 GBP
CardiffCity66,000 GBP60,100 GBP35,400-96,800 GBP
SheffieldCity64,800 GBP60,600 GBP31,700-97,300 GBP
EdinburghCity64,300 GBP56,600 GBP35,300-95,000 GBP
BradfordCity64,100 GBP65,900 GBP30,800-100,100 GBP
LiverpoolCity64,100 GBP58,000 GBP31,700-96,600 GBP
LeicesterCity63,800 GBP64,200 GBP32,200-99,700 GBP
CoventryCity63,200 GBP62,100 GBP32,200-93,600 GBP
GlasgowCity62,600 GBP67,500 GBP31,200-99,700 GBP
AberdeenCity62,600 GBP62,600 GBP30,100-93,100 GBP
NewcastleCity61,700 GBP61,700 GBP29,400-94,300 GBP
LondonCity61,400 GBP66,100 GBP27,700-99,700 GBP
SomersetCity61,300 GBP57,900 GBP30,300-92,100 GBP
BristolCity61,200 GBP62,100 GBP32,300-95,200 GBP
BelfastCity61,200 GBP62,100 GBP32,300-95,200 GBP
WolverhamptonCity60,400 GBP62,600 GBP26,500-93,300 GBP
PeterboroughCity60,200 GBP59,900 GBP30,800-92,200 GBP
NottinghamCity60,200 GBP54,700 GBP30,700-92,000 GBP
BrightonCity60,000 GBP60,000 GBP29,100-95,100 GBP
SouthamptonCity59,800 GBP53,500 GBP31,800-88,000 GBP
PlymouthCity58,800 GBP58,000 GBP30,300-95,100 GBP
DerbyCity58,200 GBP54,200 GBP32,900-87,400 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity58,000 GBP54,700 GBP31,700-91,000 GBP
SwanseaCity57,900 GBP57,900 GBP29,600-86,800 GBP
PortsmouthCity57,900 GBP63,200 GBP24,800-92,300 GBP
LincolnCity57,100 GBP54,100 GBP28,900-86,100 GBP
DundeeCity56,600 GBP54,600 GBP28,900-88,600 GBP
ExeterCity56,400 GBP58,700 GBP26,100-90,300 GBP
DerryCity56,100 GBP50,000 GBP31,200-84,900 GBP
StirlingCity56,100 GBP51,400 GBP27,300-83,200 GBP
ChesterCity55,600 GBP54,700 GBP27,300-83,100 GBP
PooleCity55,500 GBP51,900 GBP29,200-83,300 GBP
NewportCity55,300 GBP60,600 GBP25,800-91,200 GBP
SalisburyCity55,200 GBP55,200 GBP26,500-84,500 GBP
ArmaghCity55,100 GBP55,100 GBP25,500-83,700 GBP
NorwichCity54,600 GBP53,600 GBP27,400-84,800 GBP
GloucesterCity54,600 GBP54,600 GBP26,500-87,400 GBP
YorkCity54,200 GBP56,600 GBP27,100-88,600 GBP
OxfordCity54,100 GBP58,200 GBP24,200-86,300 GBP
CanterburyCity54,100 GBP58,100 GBP23,700-83,100 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion52,000 GBP54,700 GBP25,300-82,300 GBP
HartlepoolCity51,900 GBP49,700 GBP26,500-81,600 GBP
WinchesterCity51,900 GBP50,500 GBP29,600-78,700 GBP
WellsCity51,800 GBP49,100 GBP24,800-78,700 GBP
WakefieldCity51,300 GBP51,400 GBP26,400-79,600 GBP
KirkwallCity51,300 GBP51,800 GBP25,800-78,700 GBP
CambridgeCity51,300 GBP50,000 GBP29,600-80,800 GBP
NewryCity51,100 GBP52,300 GBP27,400-83,800 GBP
LisburnCity50,600 GBP54,100 GBP24,800-84,600 GBP
WalesRegion50,100 GBP50,100 GBP27,400-79,800 GBP
StromnessCity49,300 GBP54,600 GBP23,800-79,700 GBP
InvernessCity49,200 GBP51,300 GBP26,200-78,500 GBP
TruroCity49,200 GBP53,300 GBP22,200-79,700 GBP
AbingdonCity49,100 GBP50,800 GBP27,400-78,500 GBP
DurhamCity49,100 GBP52,800 GBP22,800-80,700 GBP
StrontianCity49,000 GBP49,800 GBP21,500-73,300 GBP
BangorCity47,400 GBP47,800 GBP25,400-73,500 GBP
St DavidsCity46,900 GBP52,300 GBP23,500-76,000 GBP
RiponCity46,700 GBP49,800 GBP22,800-75,400 GBP

MRI Technologist in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does an MRI technologist make per month in United Kingdom?

    An MRI technologist in United Kingdom earns about 4,641 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 55,700 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for an MRI technologist in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level MRI technologists in United Kingdom start near 27,200 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 83,000 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 36,400 and 67,000 GBP.

  • Is the median MRI technologist salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 50,600 GBP, lower than the average of 55,700 GBP. Half of MRI technologists in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for MRI technologists in United Kingdom?

    Men working as an MRI technologist in United Kingdom earn around 5% more than women on average (54,500 vs 51,900 GBP a year).

  • Do MRI technologists in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 55% of MRI technologists in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5% of base salary.

  • Do MRI technologists earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays an MRI technologist about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do MRI technologists in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    An MRI technologist in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 10% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 8% a year.