Nuclear Medicine Technologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-2033 · O*NET 29-2033.00
Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn a median salary of $97,020 per year, ranking in the top 15% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do nuclear medicine technologists earn?
The median annual wage for nuclear medicine technologists is $97,020. That puts nuclear medicine technologists at #124 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $75,570 |
| 25th percentile | $83,020 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,020 |
| 75th percentile | $108,190 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,090 |
| Median hourly wage | $46.64/hr |
Is nuclear medicine technologists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for nuclear medicine technologists is +3.0%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 20K positions in 2024 to 20K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do nuclear medicine technologists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working nuclear medicine technologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- 2.Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
- 3.Perform quality control checks on laboratory equipment or cameras.
- 4.Train or supervise student or subordinate nuclear medicine technologists.
- 5.Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- 6.Record and process results of procedures.
- 7.Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
- 8.Maintain and calibrate radioisotope and laboratory equipment.
Top skills for nuclear medicine technologists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become nuclear medicine technologist?
Entry into nuclear medicine technologists typically requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, often coupled with state licensing exams or clinical hours. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Licensing requirements for nuclear medicine technologists
Nuclear Medicine Technologists are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about nuclear medicine technologists
What is the median salary for nuclear medicine technologists?
The median annual salary for nuclear medicine technologists is $97,020 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is nuclear medicine technologists a growing career?
BLS projects +3.0% growth for nuclear medicine technologists from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become nuclear medicine technologist?
The typical entry path requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to nuclear medicine technologists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.