What Do Radiologic Technician Do?
Job Description: Maintain and use equipment and supplies necessary to demonstrate portions of the human body on x-ray film or fluoroscopic screen for diagnostic purposes.
Life As a Radiologic Technician: What Do They Do?
- Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
- Use beam-restrictive devices and patient-shielding techniques to minimize radiation exposure to patient and staff.
- Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
- Prepare and set up x-ray room for patient.
- Collect and maintain records of patients examined, examinations performed, patient medical histories, views taken, or technical factors used.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
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Radiologic Technician Needed Skills
These are the skills Radiologic Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Radiology Aide
- Mammography Technician
- Limited Radiology Technician
- Imaging Technician
- EEG Technician (Electroencephalographic Technician)
Job Opportunities for Radiologic Technicians
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 127,800 jobs in the United States for Radiologic Technician. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,100 new jobs for Radiologic Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 11,000 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Radiologic Technician are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Rhode Island, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Radiologic Technicians Salary
The average yearly salary of a Radiologic Technician ranges between $28,130 and $72,720.

Radiologic Technicians who work in New Mexico, Alaska, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Radiologic Technicians make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $46,230 |
Alaska | $62,580 |
Arizona | $48,840 |
Arkansas | $42,300 |
California | $50,150 |
Colorado | $46,270 |
Connecticut | $55,450 |
Delaware | $48,900 |
District of Columbia | $54,210 |
Florida | $42,730 |
Georgia | $46,960 |
Hawaii | $54,660 |
Idaho | $48,750 |
Illinois | $47,590 |
Indiana | $49,300 |
Iowa | $42,590 |
Kansas | $49,180 |
Kentucky | $51,780 |
Louisiana | $38,370 |
Maine | $51,500 |
Maryland | $44,590 |
Massachusetts | $55,950 |
Michigan | $45,640 |
Minnesota | $55,940 |
Mississippi | $36,900 |
Missouri | $46,580 |
Montana | $42,630 |
Nebraska | $45,370 |
Nevada | $45,980 |
New Hampshire | $50,390 |
New Jersey | $53,570 |
New Mexico | $60,690 |
New York | $55,700 |
North Carolina | $39,230 |
North Dakota | $46,370 |
Ohio | $42,780 |
Oklahoma | $43,960 |
Oregon | $54,520 |
Pennsylvania | $43,070 |
Rhode Island | $55,490 |
South Carolina | $42,820 |
South Dakota | $54,290 |
Tennessee | $64,010 |
Texas | $43,990 |
Utah | $41,150 |
Vermont | $50,140 |
Virginia | $48,050 |
Washington | $59,950 |
West Virginia | $43,490 |
Wisconsin | $44,080 |
Wyoming | $51,120 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Radiologic Technicians
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Radiologic Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- MEDITECH software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Practice management software PMS
- Information systems integration software
- Diagnostic image review software
- Structured data entry software
- Internet or intranet image distribution software
- Film processor tracking and management software
- Information management subsystem software
- Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM software/modality management software
- Virtual reality computed tomography CT imaging software
How do I Become a Radiologic Technician?
Individuals working as a Radiologic Technician have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Radiologic Technician?

Where Radiologic Technicians Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Radiologic Technicians employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Radiologic Technician may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Radiologic Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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