So you’ve got your ARRT certification, you’re eyeing the travel lifestyle, and now you’re stuck on the big question — CT tech vs MRI tech salary, which one actually puts more money in your pocket as a traveler? It’s one of the most common questions we hear from allied health pros who are ready to hit the road but want to make a smart move first.
Here’s the short answer: CT techs tend to earn more on travel contracts in 2026, even though MRI techs have a slight edge in staff pay. But the full picture is a lot more interesting than just a number. Let’s break it all down — pay, certs, contract availability, and what the day-to-day actually looks like for each specialty.
How Much Do Travel CT Techs Make in 2026?
Travel CT techs are pulling in an average of about $2,575 per week in 2026, with most contracts landing somewhere between $2,200 and $3,200 depending on location, shift, and facility type. That’s a solid jump from staff CT tech pay, which sits around $77,660 per year (roughly $37/hour) nationally.
Curious which specialty fits you best? Reach out to your Junxion recruiter — we’ll walk you through the pay, the contracts, and the lifestyle for both CT and MRI travel roles.
What drives that range? A few things. High-demand states like Texas and Arizona tend to post contracts on the higher end, especially for night shifts or weekend coverage. Rural facilities and critical-need hospitals often bump the rate up even further. And the best part? CT has one of the highest volumes of open travel contracts in radiology right now, which means you’ve got leverage when it comes to picking where you go and what you get paid.
To work as a travel CT tech, you’ll need your ARRT(R) base certification plus an ARRT(CT) advanced certification. Most facilities also want at least one to two years of clinical CT experience before they’ll bring you on as a traveler. If you’re still building hours, check out our CT Technologist jobs page for a rundown of what facilities are looking for.
How Much Do Travel MRI Techs Make in 2026?
MRI techs on travel contracts are averaging around $2,400 per week, with the typical range falling between $2,100 and $3,000. Staff MRI techs actually earn a bit more than their CT counterparts at about $82,000 per year (around $39/hour) — but that gap narrows fast once you go travel.
Here’s the deal — MRI travel contracts tend to be slightly fewer in number compared to CT. That doesn’t mean they’re hard to find, but CT’s higher volume of open positions creates more competition among facilities, which pushes CT travel pay up. MRI contracts are still strong, especially in states like Illinois, Michigan, and North Carolina where imaging departments are constantly short-staffed.
For MRI, you’ll need your ARRT(R) plus an ARRT(MR) advanced certification. Some techs also hold an ARMRIT credential, though ARRT is the standard most travel facilities require. Like CT, expect to need one to two years of hands-on MRI experience before agencies will place you on assignments. Curious about MRI-specific pay data? We’ve got a full breakdown on our Travel MRI Tech Salary Overview page.
CT Tech vs MRI Tech Salary: How Do They Actually Compare Side by Side?
Let’s put the numbers next to each other so you can see what you’re working with:
| CT Tech | MRI Tech | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Annual Pay | ~$77,660/year | ~$82,000/year |
| Staff Hourly Rate | ~$37/hr | ~$39/hr |
| Travel Weekly Average | ~$2,575/week | ~$2,400/week |
| Travel Weekly Range | $2,200–$3,200 | $2,100–$3,000 |
| Travel Annualized | ~$123,600 (48 wks) | ~$115,200 (48 wks) |
| Required Certs | ARRT(R) + ARRT(CT) | ARRT(R) + ARRT(MR) |
| Contract Volume | Higher | Moderate |
See the flip? MRI techs earn more on staff, but CT techs tend to come out ahead as travelers. That roughly $175/week difference adds up to over $8,000 more per year if you’re working 48 weeks. It’s not a massive gap, but it’s real — and it comes down to supply and demand. More facilities need CT coverage, so they’re willing to pay a premium to fill those spots fast.
For a deeper look at CT-specific travel earnings by state and facility type, check out our CT Technologist Travel Salary guide.
Why Does CT Travel Pay More Than MRI Right Now?
It comes down to volume and urgency. CT scanners are in nearly every emergency department, urgent care center, and outpatient imaging facility in the country. They’re the workhorse of diagnostic imaging. When a facility is short a CT tech, it creates bottlenecks across the entire department — ER wait times go up, procedures get delayed, and patient throughput drops.
MRI is critical too, but it’s typically a scheduled modality. Patients book MRI scans days or weeks in advance. That means facilities have a little more time to plan around staffing gaps, which reduces the urgency premium. CT gaps need to be filled yesterday, and that urgency translates directly into higher travel pay.
Plus, CT techs often get pulled into trauma situations, on-call rotations, and after-hours coverage more frequently. That flexibility is valuable to facilities, and they pay for it. If you want a broader view of how radiology specialties compare, our Radiology Modalities page covers the full landscape.
Want to see what’s actually available right now? Talk to Junxion — your recruiter can pull up open CT and MRI contracts in the states you’re interested in.
What’s the Day-to-Day Like for Travel CT Techs vs MRI Techs?
Beyond the paycheck, these two specialties feel pretty different on the floor.
Travel CT techs tend to work in fast-paced environments. You’re scanning trauma patients, running contrast studies, handling portable CTs in the ICU, and bouncing between the ER and outpatient orders. Shifts can be unpredictable — you might be steady all morning and then slammed with a multi-vehicle accident in the afternoon. If you thrive on variety and don’t mind a little chaos, CT travel is going to feel like home.
Travel MRI techs work at a different rhythm. Your day is usually scheduled — brain scans, knee scans, cardiac MRIs, one after another. You’ve got more time with each patient, which some techs love. The trade-off is that MRI shifts can feel long if you’re someone who likes constant change. You’re also working with stronger safety protocols (no ferromagnetic materials in the scan room, patient screening for implants), which adds a layer of responsibility that’s unique to the modality.
Oh, and one thing people don’t talk about enough — noise. MRI suites are loud. You’re wearing hearing protection and so is your patient. CT rooms are quiet by comparison. Small thing, but after a 12-hour shift, it matters.
Can You Hold Both CT and MRI Certifications as a Traveler?
Absolutely — and it’s one of the smartest moves you can make. Dual-certified CT/MRI techs are basically unicorns in the travel market. Facilities love them because they can flex between departments, which means you become the first call when a high-paying contract opens up.
If you already hold one certification, adding the other typically means passing the ARRT advanced exam in the second modality and logging the required clinical hours. Some techs knock this out while working staff positions before going travel. Others pick up cross-training during their first couple of assignments at facilities that run both modalities.
The pay bump for dual-cert techs isn’t always reflected in the posted rate, but it gives you access to more contracts, more locations, and more negotiating power. Your recruiter can tell you exactly which open positions value that dual certification — and at Junxion, we actually break down the pay so you can see where every dollar goes. No black-box bill rates, no guessing.
Which States Have the Most CT and MRI Travel Contracts?
Contract availability shifts throughout the year, but a few states consistently post high volumes for both CT and MRI travelers. Texas is massive — the sheer number of hospitals and imaging centers means there’s almost always something open. Arizona picks up heavily in the winter months when seasonal population surges hit. Iowa and Michigan tend to have steady needs driven by rural facilities that struggle to recruit permanent staff.
For CT specifically, you’ll see a lot of ER-attached contracts in urban hospitals — these are the ones that tend to pay the most because they need round-the-clock coverage. MRI contracts cluster more around outpatient imaging centers and large health systems with dedicated MRI departments.
Your Junxion recruiter can filter open contracts by state, modality, shift, and pay range so you’re not wading through hundreds of listings that don’t fit. We keep it targeted. Check out our Travel Radiology Tech Opportunities page to see what’s trending right now.
Salary guides by specialty: ICU RN | ER Nurse | CVOR | CT Tech | Cath Lab Tech | Echo Tech
Explore by state: Texas | Arizona | Illinois | North Carolina | Michigan | Iowa
Ready to make your move? Reach out to your Junxion recruiter — we match you with assignments that fit your goals, not just open slots. Junxion was built by someone who’s actually been a travel healthcare worker — so when we say we get it, we mean it.
So Which One Should You Pick — CT or MRI?
If your main goal is maximizing travel income in 2026, CT has the edge. More contracts, higher weekly averages, and strong demand across the country. But if you prefer a more predictable workflow, enjoy spending more time with patients, and don’t mind slightly lower weekly rates, MRI is a great travel specialty with solid earning potential too.
The honest answer? Neither choice is wrong. Both specialties pay well above staff rates, both give you the freedom to pick your location, and both are in demand. The right pick depends on how you like to work, not just what the paycheck says.
And if you’re still on the fence, that’s exactly what your recruiter is for. Not a call center — an actual person who knows the imaging market and can walk you through real numbers on real contracts. Junxion was founded by someone who’s been in the travel healthcare trenches, so the advice you get here comes from experience, not a script.
Talk to a Junxion recruiter today and start your next assignment with confidence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do CT techs or MRI techs make more money as travel healthcare workers?
In 2026, travel CT techs earn more on average — about $2,575/week compared to $2,400/week for MRI techs. The gap is driven by higher contract volume and ER-related urgency for CT coverage.
What certifications do I need to travel as a CT or MRI tech?
Both require an ARRT(R) base certification. CT techs add the ARRT(CT) and MRI techs add the ARRT(MR). Most facilities also want one to two years of modality-specific clinical experience.
Can I switch from MRI to CT (or vice versa) as a traveler?
Yes. You’ll need to earn the advanced ARRT certification in the second modality and log the required clinical hours. Dual-certified techs have access to more contracts and stronger negotiating power.