Radiologic Technicians together with MRI Technicians help to identify and diagnose a number of illnesses and injuries through the use of equipment such as diagnostic imaging exams and magnetic resonance imagery scanners.
They aid physicians in diagnosing the problems of patients that can’t be diagnosed with regular lab tests.
Radiology Technicians and MRI Technicians usually work in hospitals, but can also work in private clinics and medical laboratories.
They assist patients who are confined in the hospital, as well as operate equipment for outpatient services.
They work full time, but since they are also needed in emergency situations, they can work overnight, over weekends and holidays, and be available on call.
Radiology Technician Salary
How much do radiology technicians make?
The upper 10% earns an annual average of $99,180, while the lower 10% earns an average of $50,220.
A radiology technician starting salary depends on a variety of factors which include state of employment, size of institution, as well as hours worked.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | California | 1.02 | $35.36 | $73,550 |
 | Massachusetts | 1.41 | $33.66 | $70,010 |
 | Alaska | 1.38 | $33.11 | $68,870 |
 | Hawaii | 1.11 | $32.78 | $68,190 |
 | Washington | 1.37 | $32.69 | $68,000 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial – Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental – Leasing | 0.04 | $34.86 | $72,500 |
| Colleges – Universities – Professional Schools | 0.05 | $31.69 | $65,920 |
| Nursing Care Facilities | – | $31.13 | $64,750 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 0.96 | $30.60 | $63,650 |
| Scientific Research – Development Services | 0.02 | $30.07 | $62,540 |
Radiology Technician Job Description
What do Radiology Technicians do? A Radiology Technician performs diagnostic duties such as operating X-rays and other diagnostic imaging exams, while an MRI Technologist operates magnetic resonance imaging scanners to produce images needed for diagnosis.
Both occupations operate equipment that is needed to find specific ailments and injuries that physical and lab tests can’t detect. Among the machines radiologists operate are X-rays, computer tomography (CT) imaging, and other medical equipment.
A radiology technician can also specialize in one type of machine or field. Some focus on X-rays while others focus on mammography. Mammography is a low-dose X-ray system that produces images of the breast and is used to detect breast cancer. Other radiologists are also certified in multiple specialties, allowing them to work in many different areas in medical care.
The duties and responsibilities of a radiologist or MRI technician include:
- Preparing patients for procedures, which include getting information on a patient’s medical history and answering questions about the procedure;
- Following the orders of physicians in terms of what part/s of the body to be scanned;
- Maintaining and caring for the imaging equipment being used;
- Positioning the patient properly on the equipment, as well as helping them turn when they cannot do it by themselves, in cases of handicapped patients;
- Operating the machines;
- Protecting the patient by covering up areas of the body that don’t need to be scanned;
- Working with physicians in the evaluation of the produced images;
- Document results.
Some radiology technicians also prepare a mixture that patients need to drink, where it makes it possible for scanning equipment to view soft tissues. MRI technologists can also inject patients with contrast dyes to allow images to show up on the scanning machines.
There is a total of 199,200 radiology technicians working in the United States, and a total of 30,100 MRI technicians.
Most of the radiology technicians in the industry work in healthcare facilities, which means they are at a greater risk for exposure to infectious diseases compared to other occupations. They also have to stand for long periods of time when they need to operate the machines, as well as to help in lifting and turning patients who may be disabled.
The industry that employ the most radiology technicians is general medical and surgical hospitals, where 59% of all radiology technicians are employed. 22% of the total number of radiology technicians are employed in offices of physicians, while 7% work in medical and diagnostic laboratories. 4% of radiologists work in outpatient care services.
Radiation hazards are something that radiology technicians are constantly exposed to. They usually wear badges that measure radiation levels in their work space. Hazards are minimized in their line of work through the use of protective lead aprons, gloves, shielding devices, and other instruments that detect exposure to radiation.
Radiology Technicians Job Outlook
The projected increase in radiology technicians’ jobs is 12% for the years 2016 to 2026, which is faster than the average in the US. The projected number of jobs to be created within these years are 25,300.
The projected increase in MRI technologists’ jobs is 14%, which is also faster than average occupations.
As the general population is aging, a general increase in the demand for radiology technicians and MRI technicians is also seen. Injuries and fractures caused by osteoporosis are also seen to increase, which will require more radiology technicians to operate scanning machines.
Developments in federal health legislation will also make it possible for individuals to have more access to health insurance, increasing the demand for medical care.
More and more outpatient services are also seen to increase, as it will be encouraged as a cost saving measure as opposed to being confined at a hospital for medical care.
Radiology Technician Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 1.797 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| Alaska | 1.382 | $33.11 | $68,870 |
 | Arizona | 1.322 | $29.31 | $60,960 |
 | Arkansas | 1.572 | $22.32 | $46,410 |
| California | 1.025 | $35.36 | $73,550 |
 | Colorado | 1.238 | $29.06 | $60,450 |
 | Connecticut | 1.343 | $30.74 | $63,940 |
 | Delaware | 1.406 | $28.31 | $58,890 |
 | Florida | 1.677 | $24.40 | $50,760 |
 | Georgia | 1.261 | $24.81 | $51,590 |
| Hawaii | 1.106 | $32.78 | $68,190 |
 | Idaho | 1.239 | $24.96 | $51,920 |
 | Illinois | 1.229 | $28.62 | $59,520 |
 | Indiana | 1.481 | $25.90 | $53,870 |
 | Iowa | 1.487 | $23.36 | $48,590 |
 | Kansas | 1.5 | $23.67 | $49,240 |
 | Kentucky | 2.122 | $24.21 | $50,370 |
 | Louisiana | 1.551 | $23.06 | $47,970 |
 | Maine | 1.682 | $27.12 | $56,420 |
 | Maryland | 1.6 | $30.25 | $62,920 |
| Massachusetts | 1.408 | $33.66 | $70,010 |
 | Michigan | 1.617 | $25.25 | $52,530 |
 | Minnesota | 1.431 | $30.17 | $62,760 |
 | Mississippi | 1.72 | $22.59 | $46,980 |
 | Missouri | 1.441 | $24.67 | $51,310 |
 | Montana | 1.693 | $25.66 | $53,380 |
 | Nebraska | 1.719 | $24.19 | $50,320 |
 | Nevada | 1.164 | $31.07 | $64,610 |
 | New Hampshire | 1.193 | $29.80 | $61,970 |
 | New Jersey | 1.345 | $31.44 | $65,400 |
 | New Mexico | 1.481 | $27.74 | $57,700 |
 | New York | 1.497 | $31.87 | $66,280 |
 | North Carolina | 1.682 | $26.22 | $54,540 |
 | North Dakota | 1.14 | $23.05 | $47,950 |
 | Ohio | 1.693 | $25.35 | $52,730 |
 | Oklahoma | 1.395 | $26.55 | $55,210 |
 | Oregon | 1.16 | $31.58 | $65,690 |
 | Pennsylvania | 1.726 | $25.98 | $54,040 |
 | Rhode Island | 1.503 | $31.89 | $66,330 |
 | South Carolina | 1.683 | $23.50 | $48,870 |
 | South Dakota | 2.401 | $22.25 | $46,280 |
 | Tennessee | 1.883 | $23.68 | $49,250 |
 | Texas | 1.222 | $26.08 | $54,250 |
 | Utah | 1.11 | $25.72 | $53,500 |
 | Vermont | 1.279 | $27.83 | $57,890 |
 | Virginia | 1.387 | $27.56 | $57,330 |
| Washington | 1.373 | $32.69 | $68,000 |
 | West Virginia | 2.2 | $22.06 | $45,880 |
 | Wisconsin | 1.591 | $26.10 | $54,290 |
 | Wyoming | 1.25 | $24.99 | $51,970 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara – CA | 0.69 | $44.43 | $92,410 |
| Vallejo/Fairfield – CA | 1.37 | $43.06 | $89,560 |
| San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City – CA, Metropolitan Division | 0.92 | $43.05 | $89,530 |
| Oakland/Fremont/Hayward – CA, Metropolitan Division | 1.24 | $40.88 | $85,040 |
| Sacramento / Arden / Arcade / Roseville – CA | 0.83 | $39.77 | $82,720 |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Oklahoma – nonmetropolitan area | 2.13 | $44.98 | $93,560 |
| Northern Mountains – Region of California, nonmetropolitan area | 1.54 | $37.95 | $78,930 |
| Western Central Nevada – nonmetropolitan area | – | $34.99 | $72,780 |
| Railbelt – Southwest Alaska – nonmetropolitan area | 0.88 | $34.16 | $71,050 |
| North Coast – Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 1.82 | $34.08 | $70,880 |
