The more imaging technologies a radiology tech masters, the better her salary will be.
The radiology technician, or technologist, uses specialized medical equipment to create images of internal structures in the human body. She may use X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, and other imaging tests that help physicians diagnose diseases and afflictions. A radiology technician will prepare patients for the procedure, conduct the imaging process and provide copies of the images, either on acetate or video screen, for physicians to view. Her salary may vary according to her specific employment situation.
Average Salary
In May 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled its latest data concerning occupational employment and wages across America. Its survey of salary levels among some 213,560 individuals working as radiology techs revealed the mean yearly salary for the profession to be $54,180. This equates to a monthly salary of $4,515 and an hourly rate of $26.05. The highest-earning 10 percent received an average of $75,440, while their lowest-earning counterparts made $35,700.
Salary by Industry
Within the professional field of radiology technology there are considerable differences in salary level available to a technician depending upon which sector of the health-care industry she works in. The Bureau of Labor Statistics survey singled out scientific research and development services as the sector paying the highest average wages at $64,800 annually. Medical and diagnostic laboratories were listed at $57,250, while positions with federal government agencies brought $56,140. General medical and surgical hospitals offered a mean yearly wage of $54,770 and outpatient care centers were listed at $52,950.
Salary by Location
Another element of a radiology tech's employment circumstances that can impact her earning capacity is the location in which she finds employment. Massachusetts and Nevada are the highest-paying states as of 2009, averaging $68,530 and $66,420 respectively. Hawaii and District of Columbia offer comparable levels of pay to radiology techs at $63,470 and $63,270, while West Virginia ranks among the lower levels of salary at $41,400. The single metropolitan area listed as having the highest salaries was the San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara area of California where average wages were $78,300 per year.
Prospects
In the immediate future, the employment possibilities for radiology techs should increase by a rate faster than the national average across all occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics pegs the expected growth in demand for radiology techs at 17 percent in the decade between 2008 and 2018, compared to between seven and 13 percent across all professions during the same period. An aging population, with the increased incidence of illness and injury, will be the primary factor fuelling this rise. As a result, salary levels for radiology techs should remain very competitive.
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