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Radiologic Technologist

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What Do Radiologic Technologist Do?

Career Description Take x rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient’s blood stream for diagnostic purposes. Includes technologists who specialize in other scanning modalities.

Life As a Radiologic Technologist: What Do They Do?

  • Demonstrate new equipment, procedures, or techniques to staff and provide technical assistance.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules.
  • Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
  • Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists.
  • Prepare and administer oral or injected contrast media to patients.
  • Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.

Qualities of a Radiologic Technologist

When polled, Radiologic Technologists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

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

Other Radiologic Technologist Job Titles

  • Radiological Technologist
  • Staff Technologist
  • Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Technologist)
  • Skiagrapher
  • Computed Tomography Radiologic Technologist (CT RT)

Job Demand for Radiologic Technologists

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 205,200 jobs in the United States for Radiologic Technologist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,300 new jobs for Radiologic Technologist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 13,600 job openings in this field each year.

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

Average Radiologic Technologists Salary

The salary for Radiologic Technologists ranges between about $40,630 and $86,350 a year.

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Radiologic Technologists who work in California, District of Columbia, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Radiologic Technologists in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $47,510
Alaska $73,250
Arizona $65,220
Arkansas $48,740
California $81,060
Colorado $64,660
Connecticut $69,100
Delaware $60,550
District of Columbia $77,990
Florida $56,650
Georgia $56,740
Hawaii $76,230
Idaho $59,060
Illinois $64,690
Indiana $56,640
Iowa $53,520
Kansas $54,100
Kentucky $52,300
Louisiana $51,120
Maine $58,030
Maryland $68,450
Massachusetts $74,820
Michigan $55,970
Minnesota $67,070
Mississippi $48,150
Missouri $53,990
Montana $54,700
Nebraska $53,490
Nevada $70,770
New Hampshire $62,420
New Jersey $66,730
New Mexico $58,300
New York $69,250
North Carolina $58,060
North Dakota $55,970
Ohio $56,920
Oklahoma $54,380
Oregon $73,720
Pennsylvania $53,640
Rhode Island $68,750
South Carolina $53,890
South Dakota $52,400
Tennessee $51,580
Texas $58,760
Utah $57,040
Vermont $62,200
Virginia $61,440
Washington $71,020
West Virginia $49,740
Wisconsin $58,570
Wyoming $57,720

What Tools & Technology do Radiologic Technologists Use?

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

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

How to Become a Radiologic Technologist

What kind of Radiologic Technologist requirements are there?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Radiologic Technologist?

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Where Radiologic Technologists Work

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The table below shows the approximate number of Radiologic Technologists employed by various industries.

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

References:

Image Credit: via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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