Radiology Tech Salary

Radiology technician jobs are growing faster than average right now and are a popular choice for many people looking for work in the medical technician field. As the demand for radiologists and radiologic therapies and technology grows, so does the demand for radiology technicians. As it is with any position, people looking into a radiology technician career are usually interested in how much money they are going to make. There are a lot of different factors which help determine a radiology tech's salary.

The salary of a radiology technician largely depends on four factors: location, experience, education and their place of employment. All of these factors have their own effect on the average salary of a radiology technician and all of these factors should be taken into consideration when someone wants to determine what type of salary they might make as a radiology tech.

Location:

Where a radiology technician is located will have a big affect on their overall average salary. The demand for radiology technicians in the area, the overall cost of living, and the general state of the area's economy are all factors which play into a radiology tech's salary. The cost of living generally has the most effect on the salary. Areas which have a higher cost of living will consequently have a higher salary, while areas with a lower cost of living will have an accordingly lower salary. For example, radiology technicians living in California (which has a high cost of living) will have a median salary of about $22.00, while radiology technicians living in Ohio (which has a lower cost of living) have a median salary of $15.00. A higher salary for a higher cost of living is essentially a trade off: even though a technician is making more money than their counterpart in a state with a lower cost of living, the higher cost of living in the area typically ensures they can both afford the same kind of lifestyle.

Experience:

Experience is a very important factor which it comes to the average salary of a radiology technician. Employers are especially interested in hiring technicians who already have experience and do not need excessive on the job training. Radiology technicians who have experience in other areas of the medical field will also have a better chance of receiving a higher salary. Generally, the more experience, the higher the overall income. For example, radiology technician's with less than one year of experience report an hourly wage of about $12.00 to $20.00, with $20.00 being the highest percentile. Radiology technicians with 15 or more years of experience report an hourly wage of about $19.00 to $35.00.

Education:

The level of education a radiology technician has can greatly affect their overall salary. Each state has their own licensing requirements for radiology technicians, so it is important for technicians to receive at least the minimum required in their state. In addition to the minimum requirements in each state, radiology technicians can seek certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. In general, employers prefer hiring technicians who are certified by the ARRT. Radiology technicians who are ARRT certified report a higher hourly wage than those who are not certified. For example, the minimum radiology tech's salary without certification is around $12.00, while the minimum salary for radiology technicians with ARRT certification is around $16.00. When combined with other factors which can increase overall income, certification can definitely raise the potential annual income for a technician. In addition to ARRT certification, education and training in a specialized area of radiologic technology will usually raise the overall income of a radiology technician.

Place Of Employment:

The place of employment is an important factor when it comes to the average salary for a radiology technician. Typical places of employment for radiology technicians include general medical hospitals, private physician's offices, outpatient care centers, private radiologist’s offices and medical/diagnostic laboratories. Working in specialized places of employment, such as laboratories, generally comes with a higher annual income. The median income for technicians employed at laboratories is $55,211, while the median income for those working in general hospitals is $52,890, and the median income for those working in private physician’s offices is $48,530.

Generally, hospitals employ the most radiology technicians due to their more expansive radiology departments and programs. Most radiology technicians seek employment at hospitals for a more stable job opportunity. Medical/diagnostic laboratories often seek experienced radiology technicians who have experience in the laboratory field, so those looking for these more lucrative positions may wish to build their experience for several years at a more general setting before applying to a laboratory position.

A List of Nationwide Median Radiology Technician's Wages by Percentile

Percentile – Annual Income
10% - $35,100 (or less)
50% - $43,000 - $63,000
90% - $75,000 (or more)

Conclusion:

A radiology tech’s salary will depend on all of these factors - where they live, where they work, their total experience and their education - combined. Anyone who is interested in figuring out what their average wage might be will need to take these factors into consideration. For example, a radiology technician with no experience working in Ohio can expect to receive an annual income that is in the lowest percentile, while a technician with 15 years of experience working at a diagnostic laboratory in California can expect to receive an income much closer to the highest percentile. It's also important to remember that average wages are only average estimations calculated by using a limited amount of statistics and data. There are plenty of technicians who make more or less than what is expected when you consider their location, experience, education and place of employment. This guide is intended only to give you a general idea of what to expect when estimating a radiology technician’s salary.