Wednesday, February 18, 2026

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

More than 41,500 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were working in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to the latest occupational employment numbers available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The four-state Southwestern region accounted for an estimated 3,520 MRI technologist jobs at that time, or about 8% of the national total.  BLS data revealed the Southwestern U.S. to be a modestly better than average one for MRI technologist pay, with about 20% of the region's MRI technologists working in a state where the annual mean wage for the profession was above the national average.  A closer study of May 2024 state-level BLS statistical data provides the following about MRI technologist pay in the Southwestern U.S. region:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AZ 710 $95,170 19th
NM 110 $87,930 26th
OK 360 $82,880 33rd
TX 2,340 $88,150 25th
U.S. 41,560 $89,999 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on February, 18, 2026

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

EMT Pay in the Southeast

May 2024 data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that more than 178,010 Americans were employed as emergency medical technicians (EMTs). The twelve-state Southeast region accounted for just over 43,100 of those EMT jobs. In general, the Southeast is the weakest region in the country for EMT pay with only one state, Virginia, having an annual mean wage above the national average for EMTs. Moreover, six states in the Southeast ranked in the bottom quintile nationally for EMT annual mean wages. According to May 2024 BLS data, emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic pay in the Southeast looked as follows:

EMT and Paramedic Pay in the Southeast
EMT Pay in the Southeast

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AL 2420 $37,680 44th
AR 1230 $35,650 47th
FL 6770 $43,380 23rd
GA 5740 $40,720 33rd
KY 3190 $37,960 43rd
LA 2290 $34,940 51st
MS 1300 $35,380 49th
NC 7540 $43,140 24th
SC 4270 $39,840 37th
TN 3420 $40,090 36th
VA 3780 $44,740 21st
WV 1150 $35,430 48th
U.S. 257,700 $40,370 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on February 17, 2026