Radiological technicians produce scans of the human body to help doctors diagnose patients and treat disease.
Radiology technicians play a vital role in the health care industry and are heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of a medical facility. Using sophisticated scanning technologies, these individuals produce complex images of the human body. Radiologists must complete certain educational and training requirements to become proficient in their field.
Job Description
Radiological technologists and technicians produce diagnostic images of the human body using x-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and mammography. A variety of jobs fall under the radiology umbrella. Radiographers produce x-ray films used in diagnosing medical problems, while those who specialize in computed tomography, or CT, are called CT technologists. Radiological technologists who specialize in magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, are known as MRI technologists. Cardiovascular technologists produce detailed images of the heart, while diagnostic medical sonographers use high-frequency sound waves to create scans of the body.
Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national mean annual salary for a radiological technician was $55,730, while individuals at the top of their field were paid significantly more at $76,850 a year. Nationally, radiological technicians earned a mean hourly wage of $26. Entry-level positions that paid within the bottom 25 percent of the profession earned a national annual mean wage of $44,200, or a mean annual hourly wage of $21. If you want to earn top dollar for your radiological skill set, look for employment in Massachusetts, Maryland, California and Nevada, as these are the top-paying states for this profession: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiologists living in these areas earned a mean annual salary above $65,000, or a hourly wage of at least $31.
Industry
Radiological technicians are employed mostly within the health care industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation are government, hospitals and other medical facilities. The top-paying industries for radiological technicians are in scientific research and development, education, and office administrative services. Each of these industries pays a mean annual salary between $61,000 and $66,000.
Education
All radiological technicians are required to have formal training in radiography and a certification in their field from the state. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an associate degree is the most prevalent form of education for radiological technologists and technicians.
Experienced technologists, or those who have obtained a bachelor's degree, may be promoted to supervisory positions such as chief radiological technologists. Usually bachelor's degree holders are paid within the top 50th percentile of their field and earn an annual mean annual salary of at least $54,000, or an hourly rate of $26.
Those with a master's degree in business or health administration may be able to advance to a position as a radiological administrator or director. Administrators and directors in this field are paid within the top 25th percentile of their field and earn an annual mean salary of at least $65,000, or an hourly rate of $31.
Outlook
According to a 2010 report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to increase by 17 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than the national average for all other occupations.
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