Healthcare Practitioners
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Also called: CT Tech (Computed Tomography Technologist), Mammographer, Multimodality Technologist, Radiographer
US median pay
$80,110
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
13,000
234,200 employed
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
- Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Service Orientation3.5/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.4/5
- Medicine and Dentistry4.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Biology4.1/5
- Physics4.0/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Associate's degree.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.