Healthcare practitioners
Radiologic technologist
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 pay
$80,110
Growth to 2035
+5%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
13,000
Time to qualify*
2.2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Radiologic technologist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- ARRT certification exam · State license in most states
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
Radiologic technologist: 29% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
- Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
- 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.
- Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
- Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
- Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
- Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
- Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
Also called: CT Tech (Computed Tomography Technologist) · Mammographer · Multimodality Technologist · Radiographer · Radiologic Technician (RAD Tech) · Radiology Technician (Radiology Tech) · Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R)) · RT (Radiologic Technologist)
Outlook and AI
Radiologic technologists held 234,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 246,000 by 2035 (+5%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Radiologic technologist vs. Diagnostic medical sonographer
- Radiologic technologist vs. Registered nurse
- Radiologic technologist vs. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Radiologic technologist vs. Magnetic resonance imaging technologist
- Radiologic technologist vs. Radiation therapist
- Radiologic technologist vs. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Radiologic technologist vs. Nuclear medicine technologist
- Radiologic technologist vs. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Radiologic technologist vs. Surgical technologist
- Radiologic technologist vs. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians