Medical Imaging & Radiation Therapy salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

Radiologic Technologist (X-Ray Tech, RT(R), Rad Tech) SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. direct match.
CT Technologist (CAT Scan Tech) SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
MRI Technologist SOC 29-2035, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists. direct match.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound Tech, General Sonographer) SOC 29-2032, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. direct match.
Vascular Sonographer (Vascular Tech, RVT) SOC 29-2032, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. broader match.
Cardiac Sonographer (Echo Tech, Echocardiographer) SOC 29-2032, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. broader match.
OB/GYN Sonographer (Maternal-Fetal Ultrasound) SOC 29-2032, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. broader match.
Mammography Technologist (Mammo Tech, Breast Imaging Tech) SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
Bone Densitometry Technologist (DEXA Tech) SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Nuc Med Tech) SOC 29-2033, Nuclear Medicine Technologists. direct match.
PET/CT Technologist SOC 29-2033, Nuclear Medicine Technologists. broader match.
Interventional Radiology Technologist (IR Tech, Special Procedures Tech) SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
OR / C-Arm Radiologic Technologist SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
Limited Scope X-Ray Technician (Basic X-Ray Machine Operator, Limited Permit) SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
Radiation Therapist SOC 29-1124, Radiation Therapists. direct match.
Lead MRI Technologist SOC 29-2035, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists. broader match.
Lead CT Technologist SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
Lead Mammography Technologist SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.
Per Diem Radiologic Technologist SOC 29-2034, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. broader match.

What roles belong in this salary family?

This family covers imaging and radiation therapy staff who work with scanners, probes, treatment systems, and image-guided procedures. We separate roles by modality, site coverage, and the decisions the technologist makes alone. That helps us compare staff openings with specialty seats and lead duties.

An X-ray or CT technologist may move between outpatient studies and urgent add-ons. A sonographer may spend a shift on vascular, cardiac, OB, or general exams. Radiation therapists and nuclear medicine staff follow different daily workflows and handoff points.

How does the workday change by modality?

A shift often starts with room checks, patient prep, and confirming the ordered study. The technologist positions the patient, runs the exam, watches image quality, and sends the result to the reader or treating provider. Lead staff may also cover schedule changes, training questions, and equipment issues.

MRI, CT, and X-ray usually require quick room turnover and close coordination with front desk and nursing. Sonographers spend more time on exam technique and image capture. Radiation therapists repeat treatment setup steps and record what was delivered before the next patient arrives.

What do employers compare in offers?

We look at the setting, shift, and skill mix before we compare offers. Evening work, weekend coverage, call, lead duties, and cross-training in more than one modality all change the conversation. A per diem schedule asks for different expectations than a full-time opening.

Certified experience in one specialty is not the same as broad department coverage. A breast imaging tech, IR tech, or PET/CT tech may need a narrower background than a general radiology opening. For managers, the question is what this seat must cover on day one.

Which roles ask for deeper technical background?

MRI, interventional radiology, cardiac sonography, and radiation therapy often ask for more direct procedure experience. These shifts can involve room setup, patient coaching, documentation, and close attention to task order. The manager should ask where the person has worked most often.

Lead positions add scheduling, coaching, and problem solving. A lead tech may still work cases, but also answers staffing questions and watches flow when rooms back up. That makes the interview different from a basic staff opening.

What should we ask in the interview?

Ask what studies the person performs most often, which rooms they can cover alone, and what they hand off to a supervisor. Ask about contrast prep, image review, sterile field work, treatment setup, or probe selection, depending on the role. Keep the questions tied to the real shift.

For multi-site groups, ask how the person handles floating between outpatient, hospital, and surgery settings. For lead roles, ask who builds the daily assignment sheet and who handles conflict when rooms fall behind. Those answers show how much help the hire will need.

How do we use this guide in a search?

We use this family guide to compare common imaging and radiation therapy openings across settings. It helps us sort a general technologist seat from a specialty role, then talk with you about the duties that matter most. The goal is a clear match between the work and the hire.

We arrange locum tenens, travel and contract coverage on request. Credentialing, licensing and malpractice coverage are confirmed per engagement before anyone starts.

What else should you ask about this edition?

How do we distinguish a general radiologic technologist from a specialty opening?

We start with the studies they must perform without help. A general X-ray seat may cover chest, ortho, and portable exams. A specialty opening may focus on CT, mammography, IR, or another narrow workflow, and that changes the screen we use.

What matters most when hiring a lead technologist?

A lead tech should still know the work at the table or scanner. We also ask who builds the day’s assignments, who handles coverage gaps, and who talks with nurses or physicians when the list changes. That shows whether the lead work is real or only a title.

How should we think about per diem coverage in imaging?

Per diem coverage works best when the department can hand off clear tasks at the start of the shift. We ask which rooms the person can cover, whether they can work alone, and how much orientation the site expects. That avoids confusion when the schedule changes.

What should we ask before hiring for MRI, CT, or IR?

Ask what equipment and exam types the person has used most often. Then ask how they handle patient prep, image review, and handoff to the next step. For IR, add questions about sterile room work and the pace of procedure turnover.