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What You Need to Know About Radiologic Technician

Career Description Maintain and use equipment and supplies necessary to demonstrate portions of the human body on x-ray film or fluoroscopic screen for diagnostic purposes.

List of Radiologic Technician Job Duties

  • Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
  • Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
  • Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient’s bedside.
  • Assure that sterile or non-sterile supplies such as contrast materials, catheters, films, chemicals, or other required equipment, are present and in working order or requisition materials.
  • Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
  • Transport patients to or from exam rooms.

Skills Needed to be a Radiologic Technician

Below is a list of the skills most Radiologic Technicians say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Chief Technician, X-Ray (Chief Tech, X-Ray)
  • Radiologic Technician (RT)
  • X Ray Operator
  • Medical Imaging Technician
  • Radiology Assistant

Are There Job Opportunities for Radiologic Technicians?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 127,800 jobs in the United States for Radiologic Technician. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,100 new jobs for Radiologic Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 11,000 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Radiologic Technician are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Rhode Island, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Radiologic Technicians Salary

The typical yearly salary for Radiologic Technicians is somewhere between $28,130 and $72,720.

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Radiologic Technicians who work in New Mexico, Alaska, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

How much do Radiologic Technicians make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $46,230
Alaska $62,580
Arizona $48,840
Arkansas $42,300
California $50,150
Colorado $46,270
Connecticut $55,450
Delaware $48,900
District of Columbia $54,210
Florida $42,730
Georgia $46,960
Hawaii $54,660
Idaho $48,750
Illinois $47,590
Indiana $49,300
Iowa $42,590
Kansas $49,180
Kentucky $51,780
Louisiana $38,370
Maine $51,500
Maryland $44,590
Massachusetts $55,950
Michigan $45,640
Minnesota $55,940
Mississippi $36,900
Missouri $46,580
Montana $42,630
Nebraska $45,370
Nevada $45,980
New Hampshire $50,390
New Jersey $53,570
New Mexico $60,690
New York $55,700
North Carolina $39,230
North Dakota $46,370
Ohio $42,780
Oklahoma $43,960
Oregon $54,520
Pennsylvania $43,070
Rhode Island $55,490
South Carolina $42,820
South Dakota $54,290
Tennessee $64,010
Texas $43,990
Utah $41,150
Vermont $50,140
Virginia $48,050
Washington $59,950
West Virginia $43,490
Wisconsin $44,080
Wyoming $51,120

What Tools & Technology do Radiologic Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Radiologic Technicians may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • MEDITECH software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Information systems integration software
  • Diagnostic image review software
  • Structured data entry software
  • Internet or intranet image distribution software
  • Film processor tracking and management software
  • Information management subsystem software
  • Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM software/modality management software
  • Virtual reality computed tomography CT imaging software

How to Become a Radiologic Technician

Individuals working as a Radiologic Technician have obtained the following education levels:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Radiologic Technicians Work?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Those interested in being a Radiologic Technician may also be interested in:

Career changers with experience as a Radiologic Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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