How to Become a Radiologic Technologist
Perform diagnostic imaging examinations such as X-rays and CT scans, positioning patients and operating imaging equipment. It typically requires an associate's degree (accredited radiography program), with a median salary of $80,110 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$80,110/yr
Middle half
$64,810 to $98,750
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
12,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Imaging Equipment Operation
- Patient Positioning
- Radiation Safety
- Anatomy
- Attention to Detail
Helpful certifications
- ARRT Certification
- State Licensure
- CT or MRI Specialty Certification
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
3/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
48/100
Satisfaction
70/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Radiologic Technologist make?
The median pay for a Radiologic Technologist is $80,110 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $64,810 and $98,750 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Radiologic Technologist?
The usual entry point is an associate's degree (accredited radiography program). Common majors are Radiologic Technology, Health Sciences, and Biology.
Is Radiologic Technologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 12,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Radiologic Technologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Imaging Equipment Operation, Patient Positioning, Radiation Safety, Anatomy, and Attention to Detail.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).