Advantages & Disadvantages of Being an X-Ray Technician
Working as an X-ray technician can be demanding and rewarding. Careers in health care afford the opportunity to help others and ease their pain. These careers generally pay well, too. The job market favors X-ray technicians and will continue to do so for years, and these technicians make a respectable salary. The biggest drawback, though, is the commitment it takes to be a health care professional.
Salary and Benefits
The average salary of an X-ray technician is a major advantage. According to Salary.com, as of January 2010, national average salary for X-ray technicians ranged from $43,840 to $52,341 annually. Most technicians report having life, health and dental insurance and receiving overtime pay.
Job Security
Job security is a distinct advantage for X-ray technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for X-ray techs are expected to expand 15 percent by 2016. This is higher than the average growth rate among other industries, partially because health care is generally an expanding industry.
Flexible Education
The requirements for becoming an X-ray technician pose another advantage. While some may pursue a four-year bachelor's degree, this is generally the route taken by people interested in career advancement and administrative or managerial work in the field. Most people opt for a two-year associate's degree followed by certification.
Disadvantages
Work in the health care field, however, is not without its disadvantages. Most X-ray technicians report working overtime, meaning more than the standard 40 hours per week. X-ray techs need to have a strong work ethic, as 44 percent report being paid for working on-call, meaning they could be paged and called in to work while off-duty. While this comes with commensurate pay, it could nonetheless be considered a disadvantage to working in this profession. Another potential disadvantage is the need to continue your education-certified Xx-ray techs with associate's degrees must obtain 24 continued education credits every two years to maintain certification. This could be considered by many as a hassle.
Tags: health care, X-ray technicians, X-ray technician, Advantages Disadvantages, Advantages Disadvantages Being, average salary, average salary X-ray
