The California Employment Development Department estimates that the demand for radiologic, or X-ray, technologists in the state will increase by more than 21 percent from 2008 through 2018. X-ray techs in California earned an average of $62,590 per year as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Wages in the state were more than 15 percent above the national average of $54,180. Salaries for radiologic technologists vary widely across California, with some areas featuring rates of pay that fall below both statewide and national averages.
Northern California
The metropolitan area comprised of Sacramento, Arden-Arcade and Roseville featured the highest average annual rates of pay for radiologic technicians, $68,210 per year as of May 2009, according to the BLS. Salaries for X-ray technicians across the region were generally above the statewide average. One exception was the city of Chico, were average annual salaries were $55,850. The lowest-paying city for radiologic technicians in the region was Redding, where professionals made an average of $53,000 annually.
Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay region not only featured some of the highest-paying cities for X-ray techs in the state, but also some of the highest salaries nationwide as of May 2009, reports BLS. At an average $78,300 per year, radiologic technologists in the San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara enjoyed the highest rates of pay of any major metropolitan area in the United States. Techs in the Oakland, Hayward and Fremont area were the second highest paid in the nation at $72,790 annually. The cities of Vallejo and Fairfield ranked third nationwide at a yearly average of $70,030. The lowest wages in the region were in the San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City area, where, at $64,540, average annual salaries were still well above the statewide average.
Central California
X-ray technicians in Merced made an average salary of $65,920 per year as of May 2009, making them the highest-paid technicians in Central California, according to the BLS. Average annual salaries throughout the region were generally below the statewide average with two other exceptions: Visalia at $64,660 and Santa Barbara at $64,370. The lowest-paying city for radiologic technologists in Central California was the area comprised of Hanford and Corcoran, where salaries averaged $57,380 per year.
Southern California
San Diego featured the highest average annual salaries for X-ray techs in Southern California at an average of $63,910 per year as of May 2009, reports BLS. Throughout the remainder of the region, salaries were 4 to 17 percent below the statewide average. Radiologic technicians in Los Angeles made an average of $58,030 per year, while those in Riverside and San Bernardino averaged $59,740. Salaries for radiologic technicians in El Centro were an average of $51,920 annually, making the city the lowest-paying area for X-ray techs statewide.
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