Radiologic Technologists and Technicians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-2034 · O*NET 29-2034.00
Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Radiologic Technologists and Technicians earn a median salary of $77,660 per year, ranking in the top 27% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.3% 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 radiologic technologists and technicians earn?
The median annual wage for radiologic technologists and technicians is $77,660. That puts radiologic technologists and technicians at #215 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) | $52,360 |
| 25th percentile | $62,910 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,660 |
| 75th percentile | $93,610 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,990 |
| Median hourly wage | $37.34/hr |
Is radiologic technologists and technicians a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for radiologic technologists and technicians is +4.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 228K positions in 2024 to 237K in 2034, a net change of 9K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do radiologic technologists and technicians do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working radiologic technologists and technicians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
- 2.Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
- 3.Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
- 4.Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
- 5.Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
- 6.Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.
- 7.Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
- 8.Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
Top skills for radiologic technologists and technicians
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 radiologic technologists and technician?
Entry into radiologic technologists and technicians 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 radiologic technologists and technicians
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians 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 radiologic technologists and technicians
What is the median salary for radiologic technologists and technicians?
The median annual salary for radiologic technologists and technicians is $77,660 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is radiologic technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects +4.3% growth for radiologic technologists and technicians from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become radiologic technologists and technician?
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 radiologic technologists and technicians?
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.