As of 2010, 76 percent of techs report earning medical benefits.
Radiology assistants, also called radiology technicians and technologists, perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. Technicians typically employ X-ray machines, while technologists use different imaging technology such as mammography and magnetic resonance imaging. Both technicians and technologists earn an hourly wage that is increased by overtime pay, bonuses and profit sharing.
National Average Wage
As of 2010, radiology technicians and technologists earn between $17 and $24 an hour, according to PayScale.com. Overtime pay, usually paid for time worked past 40 hours a week, adds another $25 to $36 an hour to these figures. Bonuses can add as much as $1,000 annually and profit sharing bonuses are reported as being as high as $5,000.
Wage by Experience
Pay rates change little over the first four years of a technician's time in the industry, according to PayScale.com, but rise after that time. For instance, as of 2010, a tech with four years or less of experience can expect to make between $16 and $22 an hour. After five to nine years, he can expect wages between $19 and $24, and a tech with more than 20 years in the industry can make as much as $28 an hour.
Training and Work Environment
Formal education in this industry leads to either a certification, an associate degree or a bachelor's degree, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certification programs usually last about two years, and associate degrees are the most common training. Radiology technicians and technologists are on their feet most of the day and often have to move patients who can't move on their own. Risks of exposure to X-rays are minimized by lead aprons.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a job growth of 17 percent over the 2008 to 2018 projection decade. As the current population ages and bones become brittle, there will be an increase in the need for radiological examinations. Radiology technicians and technologists who are familiar with more than one type of imaging will have the best job prospects.
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