Nuclear Medicine Technologists: Job Description
Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
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The Daily Work of Nuclear Medicine Technologists Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of nuclear medicine technologists span:
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
- Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- Record and process results of procedures.
- Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
- Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
- Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
What Nuclear Medicine Technologists Need to Know
Top nuclear medicine technologists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Nuclear Medicine Technologists Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT)
- Isotope Technician
- Isotope Technologist
- Medical Radiation Dosimetrist
- Nuclear Cardiology Technologist
- Nuclear Medical Technologist
- Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Technologist (Nuclear Medicine Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography Technologist)
- Nuclear Medicine Technician
Job Outlook
There are about 1,364,528 nuclear medicine technologists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +9.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Nuclear Medicine Technologists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $119,042 |
| Hourly median | $57.23 |
| 10th percentile | $74,375 |
| 25th percentile | $96,708 |
| 75th percentile | $141,376 |
| 90th percentile | $163,709 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $155,220 |
| Hawaii | $124,380 |
| Washington | $121,090 |
| District of Columbia | $114,750 |
| New Jersey | $111,000 |
| Oregon | $110,600 |
| Massachusetts | $110,340 |
| New York | $109,020 |
| Colorado | $108,900 |
| Rhode Island | $107,950 |
| Nevada | $107,670 |
| Connecticut | $107,050 |
| Utah | $106,720 |
| Nebraska | $104,270 |
| Minnesota | $103,850 |
| Illinois | $101,840 |
| New Hampshire | $99,900 |
| Idaho | $99,000 |
| North Dakota | $98,730 |
| Arizona | $98,720 |
| Missouri | $97,400 |
| Montana | $97,000 |
| Virginia | $96,820 |
| Indiana | $96,780 |
| Maryland | $96,560 |
| Texas | $96,060 |
| Delaware | $96,040 |
| Maine | $95,230 |
| Ohio | $94,450 |
| Georgia | $89,450 |
| Michigan | $89,300 |
| Oklahoma | $89,150 |
| Florida | $88,450 |
| Kentucky | $87,990 |
| Wisconsin | $87,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,320 |
| New Mexico | $84,860 |
| South Carolina | $84,420 |
| Kansas | $84,210 |
| North Carolina | $83,820 |
| Iowa | $83,590 |
| Louisiana | $82,540 |
| West Virginia | $82,470 |
| Mississippi | $81,020 |
| Tennessee | $80,470 |
| Alabama | $79,230 |
| South Dakota | $79,060 |
| Arkansas | $75,150 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,040 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for nuclear medicine technologists differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $142,791 | 11.9% | 0.71 |
| New England | $106,586 | 4.1% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $105,202 | 2.6% | 0.68 |
| Middle Atlantic | $101,496 | 16.4% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $95,771 | 10.5% | 0.93 |
| Great Lakes | $94,261 | 16.0% | 1.16 |
| Plains States | $92,439 | 6.9% | 1.28 |
| Southeast | $86,076 | 30.6% | 1.31 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $183,820 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $182,530 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $167,020 | 120 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $157,160 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $156,190 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $145,190 | 460 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $134,880 | 160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $128,540 | 190 |
Top Industries Employing Nuclear Medicine Technologists
The largest employers of nuclear medicine technologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 16,250 | $97,290 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 100 | $103,160 |
| Educational Services | 100 | $106,870 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 60 | $99,840 |
Below are examples of industries where nuclear medicine technologists work:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for nuclear medicine technologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Radiation
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Typical nuclear medicine technologists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Primary-Short)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Primary-Short)
- Cytogenetic Technologists (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring nuclear medicine technologists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2033.00 (Nuclear Medicine Technologists).
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