X-rays can be used to treat conditions as well as aid determine diagnosis.
An X-ray technician is also known as a radiologic technician or technologist. She is responsible for the operation of X-ray machinery within a medical environment to create images of the internal structures of the human body. These images are then used by a radiologist and other physicians to help diagnose afflictions. The salary of an X-ray technician can vary, dependent upon a number of factors.
Average Pay
The most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, published in 2008, placed the average yearly salary for an X-ray technician at $52,210. This figure is a median calculation of basic salary; for each practitioner the individual system of bonuses and profit sharing written into his contract will augment it.
Employer Type
An X-ray technician's salary can vary according to the nature of her employer. Most X-ray technicians work for hospitals and dedicated medical centers. Salary comparison website PayScale.com found that the average annual salary for technicians employed by hospitals stood at $31,315 to $50,480. The other major type of employer, private medical practice, offered between $25,434 and $51,883.
Experience
As an X-ray technician garners more experience in her chosen field, her salary level is likely to increase incrementally. PayScale.com found that newly-qualified X-ray technicians could, in December 2010, expect to receive between $29,833 and $49,791. However, those who had accrued 20 years or more of experience are able to secure $75,987 to $90,000.
Location
A further influence on an X-ray technician's pay level is the location in which she is employed. Of the American states analyzed by PayScale.com Arizona offered the lowest average salary range, $24,566 to $40,695 per year, while California had the broadest and highest range, $35,000 to $75,000.
Training
To qualify as a radiologic technician able to operate X-ray machinery, an individual must follow a training course lasting typically between 21 and 24 months. Such courses are available through universities and hospitals. Individuals need good high school grades, particularly in the sciences, to secure a place.
Certification
If an individual graduates from a course approved by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, she can voluntarily register with the organization. Employers will often look for this certification when selecting candidates as it has become known as an industry standard. Individuals should consider an ARRT-approved course to help boost their earning potential after graduating.
Outlook
An X-ray technician working in the U.S. should find employment opportunities to be abundant in the immediate future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 17 percent rise in demand for radiologic technicians through 2018. Salaries should also remain very competitive. An X-ray technician could increase her earning potential by training in advanced imaging techniques such as computer tomography and mammography.
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