Healthcare practitioners
Nuclear medicine technologist
Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
Median pay
$101,370
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
800
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Nuclear medicine technologist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Nuclear medicine technologist: 22% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
- Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- Record and process results of procedures.
- Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
- Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
- Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
Also called: Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT) · Nuclear Cardiology Technologist · Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Technologist (Nuclear Medicine Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography Technologist) · Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) · Radiation Safety Officer · Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist · Staff Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Outlook and AI
Nuclear medicine technologists held 17,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 18,200 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Radiologic technologist
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Radiation therapist
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Radiologist
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Magnetic resonance imaging technologist
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Diagnostic medical sonographer
- Nuclear medicine technologist vs. Medical dosimetrist