Radiographers use sophisticated medical imaging technology.
Radiologic technologists, sometimes referred to as radiographers, use sophisticated medical imaging equipment to generate images of internal body parts which physicians use for diagnosis and treatment. Radiographers may use X-rays, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, sonography and other techniques to get the best image possible. CNNMoney.com listed radiologic technologist as one of the 50 Best Careers of 2011, and described radiographers as part photographer, part scientific detective.
National Wages
The mean annual salary for radiologic technologists from across the country was $54,180 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS placed the median annual income for radiographers in the U.S. at $53,240, but noted that the top 10 percent of radiographers earned more than $75,440 per year. A radiographer's income can be significantly impact by the part of the country she practices in and the type of employer she works for.
Regional Wages
Radiologists who practiced in Massachusetts earned the highest median annual wages of any state at $68,430 as of May 2009, according to the BLS. Radiographers who worked in Alaska, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington state also earned median annual wages in excess of $60,000. Radiographers who practiced in West Virginia earned the nation's lowest median wages at $40,690 per year.
Local Wages
Wages for radiographers can vary widely even within a state or region. Radiographers who worked in the Naples-Marco Island area of Florida earned median annual wages of $57,550 while their counterparts in the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida region earned median annual wages of $43,340 as of May 2009, according to the BLS. Radiographers who worked in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California area earned the highest median annual wages in the country for their occupation at $78,300.
Considerations
The BLS anticipates continued strong demand for new radiographers, with a growth rate of new jobs at 17 percent between 2008 and 2018. Employers may look more favorably on radiographers who hold multiple certifications in different diagnostic procedures. More than half of all jobs for radiographers are in general medical and surgical hospitals. Radiographers who worked in hospital environments earned mean annual wages of $54,770 as of May 2009, according to the BLS.
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