Become a Rad Tech, (Salary, Job Prospects, Best Paying States)

Becoming a Rad Tech including salary and job prospects along with the best states to work in. X-ray Radiologic Technologists (Radiographers) position patients, inject contrast and create diagnostic images in x-ray radiography, and provide imaging during interventional minimally invasive and surgical procedures. X-ray rad techs in the United States have a median salary of $61,370 and the national average salary is $66,490.

Number of Radiologic Technologists in US Average Hourly Wage Average Yearly Salary Expected Growth
216,380 $31.97 $66,490 9% Increase

What are radiology jobs?
A radiologist’s jobs involves reading diagnostic medical images and there are some interventional radiologists who perform minimally invasive surgery. Physicians who pursue this career often are trained to read from multiple modalities including: radiography, ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a computed tomography (CT) technique.

On the other hand when there are images needed, a professional radiologic technologist takes images of the organs within the body. Once an image is created the radiologists can use it for the diagnosis of diseases. It may also be possible to compare patients’ organs to those from a healthy organ. The referring physicians use these images and the radiology reports as a crucial part of their medical and treatment planning for their patients.

Radiology Technician vs Radiologic Technologist
If you are new to the field you maybe searching for different terms as you are more familiar with the term Radiology and the term Technician. Many of these terms are used interchangeably online including: Radiology Technician vs Radiology Technologist vs Radiologic Technician vs Radiologic Technologist vs Radiographer. These terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the same position. Over time the responsibilities have increased and the currently preferred title in the US for x-ray, CT and MRI is Radiologic Technologist.

The term Radiologic Technologists is given for those who have gone through significant training and understand x-ray physics along with patient anatomy and proper patient positioning.

DO NOT refer to a Radiologic technologist as a Radiography Technician or an other variant. Despite the fact that they both can be abbreviated as Rad Tech. Technologists studied long and hard to get earn that title so make sure you use the appropriate one.

Therefore we will be using the term Radiologic technologist and Rad Tech from here forward in this article and not any of these other variations.

In Europe and Asia the term Radiographer is used to describe the same position. This is actually a more straightforward title but since the information in this article is primarily from the United States we will not extensively use the term Radiographer.

To further complicate the naming MRI uses the title MRI technologists and ultrasound uses the title sonographer (in a similar manner to radiographer) and one who images the breast is a mammographer.

What is the average salary for radiologic technologists?
Radiologic technologists in the United States have a national average salary of $66,490. This is for x-ray and CT rad techs and excludes magnetic resonance imaging technologists (MRI technologists), cardiovascular technologists as well as stenographers. Those are additional positions which would require separate training. All of the salary information in this articles comes from searches of the BLS database.

What is the median radiologic technologist salary?
Radiologic technologists in the United States have a national median salary of $61,370. The median value is lower than the mean/average value. This means that there are some technologists who have salaries on the high end and these higher values, these higher salaries are raising the average salary.

This national median rad tech salary is higher than the national median salary for all workers in the US which is about $32,000 per year.

As you will see below there are some areas of the country that have a higher cost of living and those regions need to pay higher salaries to offset the costs for housing, groceries, etc. As with the average radiologic technologist salary this is for x-ray and CT rad techs and does not include magnetic resonance imaging technologists (MRI technologists), cardiovascular technologists or stenographers.

The highest paid states are California, Hawaii and Massachusetts; while the lowest paid states are Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi.

[veteranstalon]

I am a retired Rad Tech, way before when this new technology. We used to develop films in the darkroom. Nowadays it is so easy no darkroom anymore. Take the x-ray and the film will deliver to the radiologist. My daughter is the one who inherits my career but she's in Nuclear Med.

[conordawson]

I love that you have an entire Chanel dedicated to this. Major help to people like me who are going into this field!

[troythexrayboy]

Nice video! I totally agree about Hawaii. The cost of living is so high leading to a high turnover of lots of medical professionals. We often have doctors that try to settle down here but end up moving back to the mainland after a year.

[PrincePalmUwU]

RED FLAG: do not pick a career because of money. pick a career because you see yourself in it and you love it for the rest of your life.

[troythepinoy]

this is such a great video! A student asked me for help finding info on Rad Tech salaries in the US so I sent this video as well as the post from your website. Keep up the great work! You’re helping a lot of future technologists with these excellent videos on your channel!

[erikisaula]

You will not be able to cross train into US with a RTR . Separate schooling is required. MRI/CT/MAMMO yes

[aaweshwagholikar]

Can you please make a video or any info on radiation therapy please
And your rad physics videos are genuinely intresting

[johnmondayo]

Thank you for the info! What are your sources for COL and salaries? Also what about metro? Would going to Seattle be more lucrative despite the higher COL, or would a smaller town in Washington be more lucrative?

[tradingfundamentals]

Hey, is there any chance that you would make the time for a informational interview regarding radiography? Or do you know anyone that would have the time? Thank you.

[_Winniejoy]

Please do you have information on international radiologic technologist that want to work in the US

[jonathanhuynh]

Can you do modalities and hourly wages ?

[gordy]

I have a dilemma. I am currently making 99k/year as an account executive for a marketing company. I could start the X-ray program in California (Oakland to be exact) in August 2024, which means I would have to quit my full time job and focus on the X-ray program for 2 years straight. Once hired by a hospital, I would most likely make less than 99k. Is it worth it?

[haloSrising]

Hi there I just found your channel thinking about going back to school for this but I have a question and I have titanium hardware in my back. Would I still be able to become a rad tech or be any kind of technician in the radiology field with this type of hardware. Thank you so much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated by anyone who reads the comments.

[मनोजभट्ट-खर]

How can an international tech get registered in the US or possibly find a phd position ? I am currently doing my masters and will be looking for opportunities in a few years time. Any information would be helpful. 😃

[sagarroy-rcbd]

Dear sir, Is there any kind of side effects due to radiation while working in radiology department please reply i am very confused 😢

[muralisunnam]

Hi, how can I apply for visa sponsor ship for Radio technologist position

[conordawson]

Where can I find these charts you have?

[JulioRad]

As a Radiologic Technologist RT(R) (CT) and now CIIP, i can solidly say stay away from this profession! Unless, you enjoy or are a glutton for gross under appreciation, being under payed or disregarded as compared to other medical modalities with equal education requirements (i.e nursing, respiratory and others...). Sure you can formulate the moral argument for pay vs satisfaction, RT is a fascinating field but the reality is quite different on the ground, especially seeing the above disparity on the job. Stay away from Radiologic technology if you'd like a rewarding career.

[shahidKhan-jfop]

No career no salary for Rad tech .he great liar.

[tommysherlock]

Hey everybody, it’s Kermit here. Let’s talk about radiologic tech!!!