Radiology techs
enjoy job security and competitive salaries.
Also referred to as radiographers, radiology technicians or assistants commonly work with x-ray machines or computer tomography -- CAT or CT -- scanners. Radiology technicians use this equipment and their knowledge of imagery and radiation to look inside a patient's body and detect abnormalities such as cancer, broken bones and foreign objects. They are also responsible for reporting to their supervising physicians and documenting imaging results. Salaries for radiology techs and assistants are subject to a variety of influences.
Salary Range Estimates
In 2009, there were about 213,560 radiologic techs working in the U.S. for a nationwide annual mean wage of $54,180, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Less experienced technicians likely fell into the bottom 10th percentile and earned less than $35,700 a year while the most experienced and credentialed made more than $75,440 a year, representing the top 10th percentile. Most radiology tech assistants earned between $43,510 and $64,070 a year. Salaries and jobs for radiology techs are expected to increase at a faster than average rate over the next several years.
Wages by Location of the Job
Salaries for radiologists vary greatly by state, likely due to cost of living and state health care regulations. For example, in West Virginia, radiology techs only made $41,400 a year on average, according to the 2009 bureau report. South Dakota, Kentucky and Tennessee also paid lower than the national average, ranging from $44,970 to $48,960 a year. However, Washington D.C., Hawaii and Maryland all reported higher than average wages, from $63,270 to $65,820 a year. The highest paying state in the country was Massachusetts, where radiologists made an average of $68,530 a year. The San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara metro area of California was the highest paying local area at $78,300 a year on average.
Type of Medical Facility or Employer
Most radiology tech assistants worked for general hospitals in 2009 and made $54,770 on average. Many also worked in the offices of physicians, but for a lower average wage of $50,860 a year. Some alternative working environments, such as office administrative firms and management, scientific and technical consulting firms, paid higher than traditional medical facilities, ranging from $58,360 to $61,970 a year on average. The highest paying employers in 2009 were scientific research and development organizations, boasting an average of $64,800 a year for radiology technicians.
Qualifications and Effect on Wages
Most radiology technicians receive training through an associate's degree, but a training program is also acceptable. Those with a bachelor's degree will likely obtain higher wages. Regardless of education path, all radiographers will study in the classroom and clinical environment and will focus on anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, radiation physics, imaging and medical ethics. All states require certification to work with radiation and radiology techs can obtain this credential through the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians. Specialized certifications also exist and can help increase salaries.
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