Radiology Technician Salary

What is a Radiology Technician?

A radiology technician is a professional in the field of medical health that works with imaging such as x-rays. These specialists are employed by medical establishments such as hospitals and clinics. Like most jobs in the field of medicine, radiology technicians are in high demand by the industry. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), radiology technicians held approximately 214,700 jobs in 2008. Most of these professionals, about 61 percent, were employed in hospitals, with the rest employed in physician’s offices, diagnostic imaging centers, and elsewhere. This career is ideal for individuals with interest in the fields of technology and health care.

What is the annual salary for a Radiology Technician?

If you have ever had an x-ray taken, you have witnessed the work of a radiology technician, also referred to as radiographers. X-rays are a images taken of a persons internals using a form of electromagnetic radiation. These images are then observed by doctors to help diagnose an ailment, typically broken bones. The procedure is done by the removal of foreign ornaments from the concerned body part and positioning it under the x-ray equipment. The images are then taken by the technician.

A radiographer’s knowledge extends beyond that of operating an x-ray machine. For instance, the technician must be able to perceive how many shots of a body part in how many positions must be taken to allow an accurate diagnosis by doctors. It is also necessary for a radiology technician to be up to date with the latest radiology standards and procedures. As the technology and science of the practice evolves, so must the knowledge of the radiographer.

What are the best Radiology Technician Schools

There are several educational paths to becoming a radiology technician. There are various levels of radiology technician training one can recieve either at a public university or a trade specific school. Obviously the higher one’s level of training the greater his expertise and salary prospect. The highest level of radiology technician training are four year Bachelor’s degrees. Lesser forms include two year certificate programs that last approximately 24 months, and associate programs. The Joint Review Committee in Radiologic Technology is responsible for accrediting schools of radiology training. Accreditation assures that the education establishment is competent in the latest radiology training standards.

Some states in the U.S. require that radiographer’s attain licenses to practice. Legislation that requires license to practice protect workers from unnecessary exposure to dangerous radiation within the working environment. Licenses are granted by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists upon the passing of an exam. For individuals in search of a quicker career path, there are shorter programs that teach the discipline in regards to a specific part of the body rather then the entire human anatomy.

What the details around a Radiology Technician Salary

One of the most important aspects when considering a career path is the potential salary one might earn. Like in other professions a radiology technician salary varies depending on a persons education and experience in the field. In general, a radiology technician salary matches up well with other jobs requiring similar levels of education. Organizations that survey average salary figures such as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has the average radiology tech salary at $52,210 in 2008. The median 50 percent received a salary between $42,710 and $63,010. The highest bracket of radiology technician salary, the top 10 percent, reported earnings of over $74,970. The lowest bracket of radiology technician salary, the bottom 10 percent, earns $35,100.

Earnings also vary in different industries. According to the BLS, the average radiology technician salary in medical and diagnostic laboratories in 2008 was $55,210. In the Federal Executive Branch, median wages were $53,650. Technicians working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned $52,890 on average. Outpatient care centers and Office of Physicians paid, on average, $50,840 and $48,530 respectively.

The websites Salary.com and Payscale.com also offer radiology technician salary figures. Salary.com cites the average income of radiographers as being between $43,943 and $52,474. According to Payscale.com, the emdian salary ranges between $37,298 and $53,721. Although the figures do not completely agree, they are all in the same approximate scale.

Like the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payscale.com also provides a break down of radiology technician salary according to specific industries, but unlike BLS’s annual salary figures, Payscale provides hourly wages. They are as follows:

Hospitals: $18.76 – $26.39
Radiology: $18.18 – $24. 76
Orthopedic Surgery: $17.78 – $25.15
Medical Services: $19.12 – $24.89

Another website that tracks radiology technician salary is Salary.com. According to its figures the median salary is 48,023. Technicians comprised of the highest 10% earners are cited as earning between $40,295 and $56,526.

As with other health professions, there is a direct correlation to radiology technician job growth and population growth. As the population increases so will the demand for technicians. Employment is anticipated to increase by 17 percent from 2008 to 2018 according to BLS. With greater demand will come a boost to radiology technician salary. This is easy to understand. The older a population grows the greater the likelihood of injury that will require diagnostic imaging.

Becoming a radiology technician seems to be a safe bet when considering salary and the prospect of job growth. The education required also seems reasonable, especially when compared to the education needed for comparable professions in the medical industry.