What’s the Average Salary for Radiology Technicians?

Working as a radiology technician can be a rewarding way to enter a field in the world of medicine without becoming a doctor or nurse. Instead of spending many years in school, these programs can be completed in two-four years. Online universities offer a great alternative to the traditional campus setting, so that students can study on their own time without having to sacrifice their current career. Another upside to online learning is that it is flexible and allows students to take on as few or as many courses as they choose, allowing them to finish a program more quickly if their schedule allows it.

But is the salary as a radiology technician worth it? Actually, radiology techs are in demand across the country; as the populations grows and ages, the need for qualified technician increases as well. So with just an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in the field, you could make healthy salary.

Average Salary for all Radiology Techs

According to reports by The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), radiology technicians and technologists made an average of $54,180 annually, as of May 2009. The American Society of Radiologic Technologist reports that an average starting salary in this field is around $30,000. Keep in mind, however, that these fields combine salary information for both technicians and technologists.

As a technician, you don’t need as much training, since you only work with x-ray machines and have a more limited scope of practice, but you also won’t earn as high of a salary. These two-year programs allow you to finish your degree more quickly, so that you are able to enter the work force. However, if you decide to go back to school for a bachelor’s degree, instead of working with just a diploma or associate’s degree, you can increase your job opportunities and expect to make a higher average of $63,000 annually. With the availability of online courses, you can begin your career as a technician and work while you attend school part-time in your free time. Some employers even offer education reimbursement, so you may be able to have your school paid for while you work toward a higher degree.

Radiology Technician Salary by Location

Where you live in the United States can heavily affect your salary, as the cost of living is different, and demand is higher in some areas than in others. The BLS, as well as other sites such as Payscale.com and Salary.com offer great information pertaining to salary in different parts of the country, so you can see how your particular area measures up. According to reports, the highest-paid radiology techs live in the following states:

Massachusetts: $68,530
Nevada: $66,420
Maryland: $65,820
Hawaii: $63,470
District of Columbia: $63,270

If relocation is an option, you can also consider moving to one of the cities where radiology techs are highly paid. According to salary reports, the top cities in this field, by salary amount alone, are as follows:

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $78,300
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA: $72,790
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA: $72,540
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $70,030
Peabody, MA: $69,760

Keep in mind that if you live in a larger city in an area like those listed above, cost of living may also be a lot higher, so the highest salary may not yield in the most money leftover at the end of the month. Thorough research into the cost of living and salary in your area compared to these highly paid cities can give you an idea of how it measures up.

Earning More Money as a Radiology Technician

Getting your bachelor’s degree and moving to a high-paying location are just two of the many ways in which you can earn more as a radiology technician. You can also choose to go through certification programs or employee training with your company, apply for government-funded positions (which typically pay more), or take on leadership roles in your company. Keep in mind that you can also use this as a career stepping stone to work at a higher level in the medical world.

Specializing in a particular area can also help you achieve a higher salary. For radiology technicians who specialize in multiple areas, this gives you more options for where you can work, as well as a more competitive edge in the job market. When you choose to specialize, you are not limiting yourself to just one type of work environment – having multiple specializations opens you up to be able to work in hospitals, clinics, or even in a doctor’s office. Having these available options allows you to determine how to earn the highest possible salary with your degree.

Top Online Radiology Programs

Becoming a radiologist or radiologic technician/technologist doesn’t take as long as becoming a doctor, but it still requires rigorous training. The following schools can provide partially or fully online accredited degrees that can lead to a career as a radiology tech.

AOS in Radiography BS in Radiologic Sciences	Pima Medical Institute — Pima Medical Institute offers an AOS in radiography which can smoothly transition into the BS in radiologic sciences program. Students learn to perform diagnostic imaging examinations like X-rays, for which they need to know what to look for, as well as medical terminology, and anatomy. Students can specialize in bone densitometry, cardiovascular-interventional radiography, computed tomography, mammography, and sonography among others.
AS in Health IT	Hodges University — The Hodges University AS in healthcare IT degree program is an online program focused on perparing individuals for entry-level jobs in hospitals, health clinics, and more. Medical record-keeping as well as health technology such as MRI and X-ray equipment will be learned within this two-year online degree program.
AS in Medical Assisting AA in Health Services	Keiser University — Keiser University's AS in medical assisting and its AA in health services teaches students the fundamental skills they need to become medical assistants and help in medical offices. Students learn to prepare examination rooms, assist in surgical procedures, take x-rays, and handle front office responsibilities like billing, scheduling, and processing insurance claims.
BS in Radiologic Sciences	Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences — The Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences' BS in radiological science degree covers everything the professional radiologist needs to know about mammography, computed tomography, MRI, advanced patient care issues, and medical imaging. Coursework also covers issues and trends in health care and case studies, with a focus on providing the tools and insights students need to become marketable job applicants.
BS in Health Services BS in Nursing	Baker College — Baker College's BS in health services and BS in nursing programs are both 100% online, allowing students to attend around their schedules. The BSN program requires clinical experience to be completed in the students' communities. The BS in health services administration teaches students to plan, budget, and coordinate activities in health care settings.
AS in Medical Assisting	Herzing University — Strayer University's Bachelor of Business Administration with a Concentration in Health Services is one of the best programs around for preparing students to become healthcare managers and administrators. Combining business principles with health services organization and management as well as skills in health services marketing and information systems creates a highly marketable job applicant for a variety of positions in this fast-growing industry.
BBA in Health Services	Strayer University — Strayer University's Bachelor of Business Administration with a Concentration in Health Services is one of the best programs around for preparing students to become healthcare managers and administrators. Combining business principles with health services organization and management as well as skills in health services marketing and information systems creates a highly marketable job applicant for a variety of positions in this fast-growing industry.
AS in Allied Health	South University — South University's AS in allied health science program is for students who wish to enter into careers as radiology or ultrasound technicians. South University's programs introduce students to a broad education in general studies while emphasizing life sciences, creating well rounded graduates. Subjects covered include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and pathophysiology which gives students a strong foundation upon which to build their careers.
AAS in Health IT	Rasmussen College — The AAS in Healthcare Information Technology degree program from Rasmussen College's online learning program is geared toward healthcare professionals seeking new career opportunities. Students of this program will be taught how to manage and handle healthcare technology and record keeping systems.
BS in Health Services AS in Medical Office Admin	Virginia College — Virginia College's BS in health services and AS in medical office administration programs concentrate on building core competencies in communication and assessment, in addition to the practical everyday skills of dealing with diverse communities as well as front and back office work. Graduates should be eligible for management positions in health services.