Radiologic Technologist Salary In the U.S
Becoming a radiologic technologist can be interesting and lucrative, requiring an understanding of the ins and outs of complex machinery. Radiologic technologists prepare patients for diagnostic imaging and take the images their physicians prescribe. It's an interesting, rewarding, and lucrative job opportunity with a high radiologic technologist salary.
What Is a Radiologic Technologist Salary?
The radiologic technologist field is growing faster than average, at 7%, and boasts a high median salary of $63,710 a year. The work is detail-oriented and requires good communication skills, but in exchange, the radiologic technologist salary is high. It's also a versatile job description that allows you to work in healthcare with minimal education.
Radiologic Technologist Salary Per State
Texas
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Salary Changes Per Radiology Career
As with many professions, your value to the hospital or other radiology context will grow as you experience a wider breadth of imaging situations and accurately and precisely handle them. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the lowest 10% of radiologic technologist salaries is $42,180. The top 10% make nearly $93,000.
As you grow as a technologist, you may find the opportunity to join management, perhaps as a senior radiologic tech or other management role. You'll still handle some of the imaging, but you'll also be supervising less experienced techs who could benefit from your guidance and background. With this role, there is a boost in pay, and you can expect to earn around $86,000.
Another route is to gain extra education and credentials to join the specialized imaging field. MRI technologists, for instance, make $74,690 a year on average, and gaining specialized knowledge can be a way to advance from entry-level radiologic technologist jobs.
One of the highest management roles available is that of radiology director at a large radiology department. This role adds an additional level of responsibility, as you are vouching for the quality of the imaging services provided by the whole department.
You'll have administrative duties and will likely manage a budget, but you'll also need your technical background to be able to verify the high-quality work being done by the entry-level and experienced techs in your department. With the added responsibility, this role will also usually carry a higher pay — you could make over $100,000.
- Certified nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients move from place to place. They play a key role in many hospitals, clinics, and senior living facilities.
- Dental assistants handle a variety of administrative tasks and some basic patient care and prep in a dental office, keeping the office running smoothly for the hygienists and dentists.
- Pharmacy technicians have customer-facing and medicine dispensing tasks as well as a variety of documentation and record-keeping work in a pharmacy.
Radiologic Technician Jobs & Career Growth Opportunities
Radiology tech roles are growing steadily and faster than the average industry at a rate of 7%.
The top three states for employment as a radiologic technologist are:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
The top three metro areas for employment as a radiologic technologist are:
- New York City
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Radiologic Technologist?
To become a radiologic technologist, you'll need a post-secondary degree, usually an associate degree. This usually requires about two years of community college tuition to complete a program in radiologic technology, which comes to roughly $7,500 on average.
After that, you'll usually want to become certified and licensed, though requirements vary by state. Certification applications cost $200 for the basic credentials and can go up for more specialization.
Salaries for Related Jobs
Medical Assistant
- Average Salary: $36,930
- Cost to become: One-year post-secondary program, potential on-the-job training.
Dental Assistant
- Average salary: $42,310
- Cost to become: One-year certificate program, state licensure exam.
Pharmacy Technician
- Average salary: $36,450
- Cost to become: One- to two-year program, either a certificate or an associate degree. Certification exam, recertification costs over time.
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