Radiologic technicians check for broken bones, tumors and other growths.
Radiologic technicians train to use specialty medical imaging equipment to see past the human skin, muscles and tissue into the body. In California, the majority of radiologic technicians, or X-ray techs for short, earned salaries (as of 2009) much higher than their colleagues in other states, but salaries varied widely within the large western coastal state.
Career Prep
To earn their places in California's radiologic technology offices, prospective technicians prepare for their careers through post-secondary education programs. While radiologic technology is taught both through short-term certificates and four-year bachelor's degrees, the most common path is the two-year associate's degree from a community or technical school. The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology accredits more than 20 of California's educational options teaching the profession, including Cabrillo College, Los Angeles City College, Moorpark College, Foothill College, Antelope Valley College and Fresno City College.
X-Marks the California Spot
In 2009, the country's 213,560 radiologic technicians earned an average nationwide salary of $54,180 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For California's 15,870 radiologic technicians, the statewide salary of $62,740 beats the national average by a significant amount. In fact, radiologic technicians at California's highest 90th percentile earning level received salaries of $89,780, while those in the state's bottom 10th percentile earned $37,210.
Highest Salaries
Radiologic technicians in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area received the highest 50th percentile salaries in the state, earning $80,500 per year. The Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville area earned the state's second highest 50th percentile salaries, at $72,040. Techs in Modesto, earning $70,900, also received higher-than-average wages, as did those in Vallejo-Fairfield, earning $71,730. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara areas also paid the state's highest 90th percentile salaries, at $105,590. The second-highest-paying area for radiologic technicians was San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, paying $102,420 at the 90th percentile.
Lowest Salaries
Not all of California's average salaries in the radiologic technician field beat the national averages. Redding was California's lowest-paying city for the profession, at $51,730 for average yearly salaries. El Centro's average salary of $54,130 also fell below the national average. El Centro paid the state's lowest 10th percentile by far, at $22,040, almost $10,000 lower than any other area of the state.
Tags: 90th percentile, percentile salaries, Radiologic technicians, radiologic technicians, 10th percentile