A radiology technician must produce a clear image to help a physician make an accurate diagnosis.
Radiology technicians take images of patients with special technology such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray and mammography. The technician is responsible for instructing the patient, answering any questions about the process, positioning the patient and producing the images for the healthcare provider. A radiology technician's pay scale depends on factors including her experience, employer and location.
Pay Range
PayScale reports that as of 2011 a radiology technician earns an hourly wage of between $14.87 and $21.38 and an annual salary of between $31,692 and $49,667. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of 2009 a radiology technician earns an average hourly wage of $26.05 and an average annual salary of $54,180. The BLS also reports that in 2009 the median hourly wage for a radiology technician in the 10th percentile was $17.16 and the median annual salary for those in the 10th percentile was $35,700. Those in the 25th percentile earned $20.92 per hour and $43,510 per year; those in the 50th percentile earned $25.59 per hour and $53,240 per year; those in the 75th percentile earned $30.80 per hour and $64,070 per year; and those in the 90th percentile earned $36.27 per hour and $75,440 annually.
Pay by Experience
As a radiology technician gains more experience, his earnings increase. When a radiology technician is in his first year, he earns between $12.89 and $17.67 per hour. If he is paid a salary, his first year's salary is between $29,833 and $49,791 (as of 2011). After his first year, his pay will most likely rise. Radiology technicians with between one and four years of experience earn between $14.10 and $20.54 per hour and between $30,666 and $46,685 annually. If a radiology technician has five to nine years of experience, his earnings rise to between $17.41 and $22.46 per hour and between $23,797 and $54,045 annually. When a radiology technician has at least 10 years of experience, he sees a significant increase in pay. Those with 10 to 19 years of experience earn between $24.73 and $31.21 per hour and between $75,987 and $90,000 each year. Once a radiology technician has been in his field for over 20 years, he earns between $20.00 and $28.50 per hour and the annual salary is not indicated, PayScale reports.
Pay by Employer Type
Radiology technicians who work in hospitals earn between $15.06 and $21.05 per hour and between $31,200 and $50,581 each year (as of 2011). Those who work in a private practice or firm naturally have the widest pay scale. Technicians who work in private practices or firms earn between $11.62 and $22.38 per hour and between $25,000 and $52,800 annually. If a radiology technician works for a company, she earns between $15.22 and $23.00 per hour and between $23,489 and $43,909 each year, PayScale reports.
Other Factors
The location where a radiology technician works is a contributing factor in her earnings. In 2009, a technician working in West Virginia earned an average of $19.91 per hour and $41,400 per year; and a technician working in Massachusetts earned an average of $32.95 per hour and $68,530 per year, reports the BLS. Other factors that affect her earnings are her education, the industry where she works, if she works for a government or military facility, the size and reputation of her employer and her employer's sales and profitability.
Tags: radiology technician, between hour, between hour between, hour between, hour year