Radiologic Technologists and Technicians: Career Overview
Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
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What Do Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of radiologic technologists and technicians span:
- Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
- Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
- Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
- Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
- Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
- Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
- Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
- Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
What Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Need to Know
Successful radiologic technologists and technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 3D Technologist
- Angiogram Special Procedures Technologist
- CAT Technologist (Computed Axial Tomography Technologist)
- CT Radiology Technologist (Computerized Tomography Radiology Technologist)
- CT Scan Special Procedures Technologist (Computed Tomography Scan Special Procedures Technologist)
- CT Scan Tech (Computed Tomography Scan Technologist)
- CT Scanner Operator (Computed Tomography Scanner Operator)
- CT Tech (Computer Tomography Technician)
Job Outlook
There are about 2,987,940 radiologic technologists and technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +13.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $137,802 |
| Hourly median | $66.25 |
| 10th percentile | $77,272 |
| 25th percentile | $107,537 |
| 75th percentile | $168,067 |
| 90th percentile | $198,332 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $107,670 |
| Massachusetts | $99,910 |
| Hawaii | $99,670 |
| Oregon | $99,530 |
| District of Columbia | $99,080 |
| Washington | $93,920 |
| New York | $91,520 |
| Nevada | $88,120 |
| Alaska | $85,870 |
| New Jersey | $85,520 |
| Vermont | $85,450 |
| Connecticut | $85,370 |
| Rhode Island | $84,630 |
| Delaware | $84,570 |
| Arizona | $84,480 |
| Colorado | $83,740 |
| Virgin Islands | $82,060 |
| New Hampshire | $82,010 |
| Minnesota | $80,960 |
| Utah | $80,080 |
| Virginia | $79,670 |
| Maryland | $79,630 |
| Idaho | $78,000 |
| Illinois | $77,890 |
| Maine | $77,750 |
| Wyoming | $77,350 |
| Texas | $76,800 |
| Indiana | $76,600 |
| Wisconsin | $76,200 |
| Ohio | $75,480 |
| Montana | $75,280 |
| New Mexico | $74,060 |
| Florida | $71,190 |
| Kansas | $68,740 |
| Nebraska | $68,520 |
| Michigan | $68,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,010 |
| Georgia | $67,270 |
| North Carolina | $67,150 |
| Missouri | $67,120 |
| West Virginia | $66,780 |
| Oklahoma | $66,610 |
| South Dakota | $66,320 |
| South Carolina | $65,100 |
| Kentucky | $64,840 |
| Iowa | $64,350 |
| Tennessee | $63,940 |
| North Dakota | $63,850 |
| Louisiana | $62,760 |
| Arkansas | $60,430 |
| Alabama | $56,790 |
| Mississippi | $53,340 |
| Guam | $50,510 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,340 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for radiologic technologists and technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $103,521 | 12.7% | 0.76 |
| New England | $90,635 | 5.0% | 1.06 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,120 | 15.1% | 1.00 |
| Rocky Mountains | $80,813 | 3.7% | 0.95 |
| Southwest | $76,760 | 12.6% | 1.01 |
| Great Lakes | $74,814 | 15.3% | 1.09 |
| Plains States | $70,385 | 7.4% | 1.08 |
| Southeast | $67,030 | 27.5% | 1.14 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $169,020 | 220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $157,170 | 1,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $136,730 | 2,580 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $132,830 | 190 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $130,710 | 1,250 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $126,180 | 280 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $124,370 | 120 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $112,920 | 270 |
Which Industries Hire Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
The bulk of radiologic technologists and technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 205,960 | $77,310 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 7,080 | $81,380 |
| Educational Services | 1,400 | $83,980 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 860 | $73,520 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 830 | $88,790 |
Below are examples of industries where radiologic technologists and technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot 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)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for radiologic technologists and technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Telephone Conversations
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Physical Proximity
Getting Started in This Career
Typical radiologic technologists and technicians 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
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring radiologic technologists and technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on 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: 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians).
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