This　paper　is　concerned　with　the　time-decay　rates　of　the　strong　solutions　of　the　three-dimensional　nonisentropic　compressible　magnetohydrodynamic　(MHD)　system.　First,　motivated　by　Pu　and　Guo＇s　result　[Z.　Angew.　Math.　Phys.　64　(2013)　519–538],　we　establish　the　existence　result　of　a　unique　local-in-time　strong　solution　for　the　MHD　system.　Then,　we　derive　a　priori　estimates　and　use　the　continuity　argument　to　obtain　the　global-in-time　solution,　where　the　initial　perturbation　is　small　in　(Formula　presented.)　-norm.　Finally,　based　on　Fourier　theory　and　the　idea　of　cancelation　of　a　low-medium　frequent　part　as　in　[Sci.　China　Math.　65　(2022)　1199–1228],　we　get　the　optimal　time-decay　rates　(including　highest-order　derivatives)　of　strong　solutions　for　nonisentropic　MHD　fluids　when　the　boundedness　of　(Formula　presented.)　-norm　of　the　initial　perturbation　is　required.　Our　result　is　the　first　one　concerning　with　the　optimal　decay　estimates　of　the　highest-order　derivatives　of　the　nonisentropic　MHD　system.　©　2023　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.