The need for professionals in the field of radiography in Oklahoma will increase by 10 percent from 2006 through 2016, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. This growth in the demand will create roughly 200 jobs. The average salary of workers in the field of radiography in Oklahoma varies based on geographic location.
Statewide
As of May 2009, radiographers in Oklahoma made an average of $45,020 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The salaries earned by radiologic technologists in the state were 17 percent below the nationwide average of $54,180 annually. Oklahoma was the eighth lowest-paying state for radiographers nationwide. The lowest-paid 10 percent of radiologic technologists in Oklahoma earned $30,470 or less per year, while the highest-paid 10 percent received $62,870 or more annually.
Metropolitan Areas
Tulsa served as the highest-paying metropolitan area for radiographers in Oklahoma as of May 2009, explains the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Technologists in the city made an average of $45,590 per year. Oklahoma City ranked second with salaries that averaged $45,540 annually. In the area of Oklahoma considered part of the metropolitan area of Fort Smith, Arkansas, radiographers earned a yearly average of $42,500. The lowest-paying metropolitan area for radiographers in Oklahoma was Lawton, where technologists earned an average of $41,230 annually.
Rural Areas
At an average of $46,890 per year, the nonmetropolitan area in the northwestern portion of Oklahoma was the highest-paying place for radiographers to work statewide as of May 2009, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Throughout the remaining rural areas of Oklahoma, salaries were around 4 percent below the Oklahoma statewide average. In northeastern Oklahoma, radiologic technologists earned an average of $43,310 per year. Those in southeastern Oklahoma made a yearly average of $43,460, while radiologic technologists in southwestern Oklahoma averaged $43,820.
Training Programs
Most employers prefer to hire radiologic technologists who have some type of formal postsecondary education. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists accredits programs for radiography training. As of February 2011, 13 schools in Oklahoma offered accredited programs: Western Oklahoma State College in Altus; Autry Technology Center in Enid; Great Plains Area Vocational Center in Lawton; Rose State College in Midwest City; Indian Capital Technology Center and Bacone College in Muskogee; Metro Technology Centers and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City; Carl Albert State College in Poteau; Southwest Oklahoma State University in Sayre; Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater and Tulsa Community College and the Tulsa Technology Center in Tulsa.
Tags: radiologic technologists, average year, Technology Center, Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics
