Nuclear radiology is a specialized field of medicine in which the radiologist assists physicians in diagnosing illness through radiological scans of the bones and body. Responsibilities include administering nonradioactive chemicals to the bloodstream prior to testing, taking X-rays and conducting CAT scans. Generally a nuclear radiologist attends a college program for four to five years, obtaining a double bachelor's degree in medicine and surgery, and many states require certification and licensing before you can enter the workforce.
Median Salary
In 2008, the median salary for a nuclear radiologist was $52,210, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the middle 50 percent of nuclear radiologists earning between $42,710 and $63,010 per year. Nuclear radiologists on the low end of the earning scale earned approximately $35,100 per year, and those on the high end of the earning scale earned $74,970 per year or more. In 2009, the median annual wage for nuclear radiologists rose to $54,180 per year, with the average worker earning approximately $26.05 per hour.
Earnings by State
As with any job, the annual wage you earn in your position will vary from state to state, and by demand. Tennessee contained the highest concentration of nuclear radiologists working in the field in 2009, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With more than 5,900 nuclear radiologists working in the field, the average nuclear radiologist in Tennessee earned approximately $23.54 per hour and $48,960 per year. Top paying states for the field of nuclear radiology include Massachusetts, Hawaii, Nevada, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas
Metropolitan areas tend to provide a larger number of workers with job opportunities. In the field of nuclear radiology, the highest paying metropolitan area in 2009 was San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, California. The average nuclear radiologist in that specific area of California earned around $37.64 per hour, and $78,300 per year. The second highest paying metropolitan area in 2009 was also in California, where nuclear radiologists in Fremont, Hayward and Oakland earned an average of $34.99 per hour and $72,790 per year.
Industrial Variances
Upon completion of a nuclear radiology educational program, a number of employment option are available. For example, private practices, outpatient care centers, hospitals, laboratories and the federal government all work hand in hand with nuclear radiologists. Nuclear radiologists employed inside laboratories have the highest earning potential, with the median wage in that field for 2008 being around $55,210 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those who worked for the federal government earned approximately $53,650 per year, while nuclear radiologists employed by medical and surgical hospitals earned $52,890. Outpatient care centers and doctor's offices saw slightly lower earnings, with nuclear radiologists employed in outpatient centers earning around $50,840, and those who worked in doctor's offices earning around $48,530 per year.
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