Salaries for X-ray technicians in Washington state depend on education and employer.
An X-ray technician examines patients using radiologic imaging instruments that send X-ray beams through parts of the body and create an imprint on X-ray sensitive films. The resulting radiography may reveal bone breakage or tumors. An X-ray technician working in the state of Washington earns $41,000 on average, according to 2010 data from Indeed.com. Salaries for this profession reflect education, location, experience and specialization.
Range
Washington state is home to 5,900 X-ray facilities, according to the Washington State Department of Health. In these centers, X-ray technicians are responsible for performing X-ray imaging on patients and ensuring that the films captured a clear image. Incomes for X-ray technicians start in the mid-$20,000 range and can exceed $60,000 with experience, according to 2010 data from Indeed.com. These numbers are low when compared with the average national salary. X-ray technicians working in other states earn about $5,000 more on average than in Washington state. Nationally, top salaries may reach $75,000.
Education
X-Ray technicians enter the profession with an associate degree in radiology or a bachelor's degree in radiography. The bachelor's degree elevates starting salaries by at least $2,000 according to Indeed.com. A license from the state of Washington is mandatory. Employers prefer to hire technicians who voluntarily took the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification. ARRT-certified technicians receive salaries averaging $55,000 annually in Washington state.
Employers
Organizations providing scientific research and development services pay the best X-ray technician compensations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Washington state, these positions are found at universities or medical research centers. For instance, the University of Washington offers compensation ranging from $50,000 to $70,000 to its imaging technologists.
Location
Medical facilities in metropolitan areas pay the highest X-ray technician salaries. For instance, the average X-technician in Spokane earns in the mid-$60,000s, according to Indeed.com. In Seattle, salaries range from $40,000 to $70,000. In contrast, your earnings would be in the mid-$30,000s in Chelan.
Advancement
You can reach higher incomes by adding additional training, such as CT (computed tomography) scanning, bone densitometry, magnetic resonance imaging, or mammography. If you broaden your skills with one of these additional imaging techniques, you can increase your average income to $59,000 in Washington state. With years of experience, you may be invited to move up the hospital ladder and become chief radiologic technologist, a position that averages an income of $63,000 in Washington state, according to Indeed.com.
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