X-rays were discovered in 1895.
X-ray technicians operate X-ray machinery to create images of the internal mechanisms of the body. The images a technician creates are often key to a radiologist establishing correct diagnoses and treatment programs. Salaries for X-ray technicians -- referred to professionally as radiologic technicians or radiology technologists -- are dependent upon a number of things.
Average Salary
Figures published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2009 put the mean annual salary for a radiologic technician working in America at $54,180. Benefits and bonuses add to this figure of basic pay and vary according to individual contracts.
Experience
Extensive experience in the field should enable an X-ray technician to secure higher compensation levels. In December 2010, PayScale.com found that newly qualified practitioners could expect an upper average wage limit of $49,791, while those who had worked as a technician for between 10 and 19 years could secure up to $90,000.
Employer Type
According to figures published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Occupational Handbook for 2010-11, different areas of the medical sector garner different average salaries for X-ray technicians. It states that the mean as of 2009 for technicians working for medical and diagnostic bodies was $57,250 while those employed by the federal executive branch earned $56,140. Outpatient care centers were listed at $52,950.
Location
The state in which an X-ray technician is employed will impact his pay scale. Salary comparison website PayScale.com in its survey of several American states found that California had an average salary range of $35,000 to $75,000 in December 2010. By contrast, Georgia's salary range was from $29,479 to $41,116.
Education
Training courses to operate X-ray machinery typically take between 21 and 24 months to complete. They are offered by hospitals and universities. It is worth researching whether a course is approved by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Completion of approved courses enables an individual to voluntarily register with the ARRT, which is regarded as an industry standard-bearer.
Prospects
Projections published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics put the rise in demand for radiologic technicians at 17 percent through 2018. An aging population will cause the medical sector as a whole to grow, with salaries remaining competitive as employers seek to fill an increasing number of vacancies. Mastering other imaging techniques, such as MRI scanning, will enhance a technician's earning power.
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