Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Health ScienceO*NET 29-2034.00United States
Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
- Median annual earnings
- $80,196
- Projected change
- +8.1%
- Typical education
- Associate degree
- Employment
- 235.59K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
72.8% of the workforce
Growing to 254.74K by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What radiologic technologists and technicians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
- Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
- Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
- Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
- Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
- Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
- Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
- Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
- Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
- Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
- Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
- Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
- Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
- Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
- Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
- Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
- Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
- Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
- Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
- Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
- Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
- Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
- Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
- Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
- Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
- Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $55,550
- 25th percentile
- $64,630
- 50th percentile
- $80,196
- 75th percentile
- $100,264
- 90th percentile
- $120,449
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $80,196 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+8.1%faster than average
2025235,591 jobs
2035 projected254,738 jobs
19,147 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Associate degree
- 72.8%
- Certificate
- 16.5%
- Bachelor's degree
- 10.6%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Computed Tomography Technologists23,414 postings
- 02Radiology Technologists20,327 postings
- 03Travel Computed Tomography Techs17,728 postings
- 04Radiologic Technologists13,213 postings
- 05Mammography Technologists7,946 postings
- 06Travel X-Ray Techs6,428 postings
- 07X-Ray Technologists6,413 postings
- 08Radiology CT Technologists6,383 postings
- 09Travel Interventional Radiology Technologists6,338 postings
- 10Travel Radiology Technicians5,370 postings
- 11Radiologic/X-Ray Technologists4,441 postings
- 12Mammography Technicians4,150 postings
- 13X-Ray Technicians3,823 postings
- 14CT/Radiologic Technologists2,749 postings
- 15Lead CT Technologists2,490 postings
- 16Interventional Radiology Technicians2,181 postings
- 17Multi-Modality Technologists1,940 postings
- 18X-Ray/CT Technologists1,923 postings
- 19Radiographers1,871 postings
- 20Radiology Technicians1,704 postings
Top employers
- 01Soliant Health12,913 postings
- 02K&A Recruiting5,458 postings
- 03Aya Healthcare5,100 postings
- 04AMN Healthcare3,515 postings
- 05HCA Healthcare3,266 postings
- 06Fusion Medical Staffing3,070 postings
- 07MedPro Healthcare Staffing2,849 postings
- 08Titan Medical2,516 postings
- 09Supplemental Health Care2,447 postings
- 10Accountable Healthcare Staffing2,398 postings
- 11Triage Staffing2,390 postings
- 12Ingenovis Health2,283 postings
- 13Medical Solutions1,670 postings
- 14Anders Group1,370 postings
- 15National Staffing Solutions1,365 postings
- 16Providence1,268 postings
- 17Sunbelt Staffing1,238 postings
- 18AdventHealth1,181 postings
- 19Health Advocates Network1,163 postings
- 20LeaderStat1,143 postings
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