Radiographers earn a decent hourly rate.
A radiographer is a technician trained to position patients and take radiographs or perform other radiodiagnostic procedures. Radiographers may work in a variety of types of hospitals and clinics, taking X-rays and working closely with physicians to prevent themselves and patients from unnecessary exposure to radiation. The amount of money a radiographer gets paid an hour depends on his experience level, as well as the type of facility he works in and the area in which he lives.
Qualifications
Radiographers have a few different educational paths to pursue in order to practice, which may include earning certification, an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. Licensure for radiographers is determined by the state, as are the requirements for a license. Many radiographers advance by participating in specialized training in areas such as CT scanning or bone densitometry, and may be promoted to positions such as chief radiologic technologist or department administrator.
Hourly Rate
The average hourly rate for radiographers in the United States was $26.05 as of 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median rate was $25.59, with those in the bottom 10 percent earning $17.16 an hour and those in the top 10 percent earning $36.27 an hour.
Industry
Radiographers working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned an average hourly rate of $26.33 as of 2009. Those working in physicians' offices earned $24.45 an hour, while those at medical and diagnostic laboratories earned $27.53 an hour. The hourly average wage for radiographers in outpatient care centers was $25.46, while those working at specialty hospitals earned $28.04.
Location
How much a radiographer gets paid an hour varies depending on the local cost of living. Those in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area of California earn the highest wages in the country at $37.64 an hour, followed by those in Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, California, at $34.99 an hour. Massachusetts is the state with the overall highest hourly rate for radiographers at $32.95, followed by Nevada at $31.93 and Maryland at $31.64.
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