Some radiologist technicians take x-rays, to use in medical diagnosis and treatment.
A radiologist technician, or radiological technician, works in the medical field to perform diagnostic imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays, flouroscopy, computed tomography (CT scans) or mammograms. Radiologists perform these tests under a doctor's orders and must follow the correct technical procedures, keep accurate records and maintain their equipment. Although a college degree is not required to be licensed as a radiologist technician, this field can offer competitive salaries.
Pay Range
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a United States government agency, the median hourly wage for radiologist technicians, as of 2009, was $25.59 and the median annual wage was $53,240. The term median refers to the fact that half of radiologist technicians will be paid more than the median amount, while half will be paid less than the median amount. According to the BLS, the lowest paid 10 percent of all radiologist technicians earn an hourly wage of $17.16 or less, while the highest paid 10 percent earned an hourly wage of $36.27 or more.
Pay by Industry
Radiologist technicians can work in a variety of industries and workplaces, such as scientific research, doctors offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics and diagnostic laboratories. According to the BLS, as of 2008, hospitals employed the greatest number of radiologist technicians. The mean hourly wage of these radiologists was $26.33. Radiologist technicians who work in scientific research laboratories earned a mean hourly wage of $31.16, while those who work in doctor's offices earned a mean hourly wage of $24.45.
Pay by Region
According to the BLS, the number of radiologist technicians is set to increase by around 17 percent between 2008 and 2018. As with many other types of jobs, pay and employment opportunities vary by state and metropolitan area. For example, as of 2008, Massachusetts employed 6,290 radiologist technicians, with a mean hourly wage of $32.95; while 1,000 radiologists were employed in South Dakota, at a mean hourly wage of $21.62; and 5,900 radiologists worked in Tennessee at a mean hourly wage of $23.54. The number of radiologists and the mean pay vary based on many factors, such as size of population, age of population, type of workplace and the experience and training of the radiologists.
Experience and Education
As with most other jobs, wages for radiologist technicians tend to rise with experience. While many radiologist technicians enter the field with an associate degree, many employers prefer radiologists that are also certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Certification by the ARRT is mandatory in 38 states. According a 2004 study by the American Society of Radiologic Technicians, the mean hourly wage for a radiologist with an associate degree was $23.54, while the mean wage for a radiologist with a bachelor's degree was $25.97. The mean hourly wage for a radiologist technician with less than two years experience is $20.53, while those with 6-10 years experience earned a mean hourly wage of $24.27, and those with 11 to 20 years experience earned a mean hourly wage of $26.04.
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