Radiologic Technologist (Rad Tech)
Healthcare · $77,660 median · 78–104 weeks training · Structurally ineligible for Workforce Pell
How we know this
The wage and outlook figures are verified against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS/OOH 2024), last reviewed June 17, 2026. We show our sources so you can check every number yourself.
Honest tradeoffs
back injury career risk
Patient lifts during imaging are major occupational injury source. Mobile imaging (taking equipment to ICU/ER beds) particularly hazardous.
radiation exposure managed but real
Radiation exposure is real occupational hazard; managed via shielding and dose badges. Cumulative lifetime dose tracking required. Modern facilities have excellent shielding; older or rural facilities may have legacy equipment with higher background exposure.
Wages
Earnings by career stage
range · estimatedResearched estimates by experience level, setting, and region — see the full breakdown below. The BLS median is the one figure verified directly against bls.gov.
Pay by stage & setting
- Entry rad tech (recent grad) $50-58K
- Experienced general rad tech $65-78K
- Specialty rad tech (CT, MRI, mammography, vascular intervention) $75-95K
- CT/MRI tech with multi-modality certification $85-110K
- Senior cath lab tech (interventional) $100-130K+. The career-pace strategy: enter as general rad tech, specialize in 2-3 modalities by year 5 for major income jump. CA RT median significantly above national.
Workforce Pell eligibility
Not eligible for Workforce Pell
Training
Ways in
Paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom hours — you get a wage from day one instead of paying tuition.
Common sponsors: Hospital-sponsored Rad Tech apprenticeships (HCA Healthcare, Banner, Kaiser, Ascension), Imaging center sponsorships
An associate degree or certificate — usually the fastest accredited credential, far cheaper than a four-year school, and often Workforce Pell–eligible.
Credentials you'll earnwith typical prep time
ARRT — Registered Technologist (Radiography)
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
Federal-level cert; required for state licensure in all states with licensure. ARRT registers technologists across multiple modalities (CT, MRI, mammography, etc.).
Source ↗State Radiologic Technologist License
State Department of Public Health
Cost vs. payoff
Cost vs. payoff
- Training cost
- $8,000–$28,000
- Time to start earning
- ~78 weeks
- Pays for itself in
- about 4 months
- Typical debt
- ~$30,000
- Time to start earning
- ~4 years
- Pays for itself in
- varies widely
We're not anti-college — for many careers a degree is the right call. But the honest gap is real: this path starts paying while a 4-year student is still accumulating cost. Degree figures are a national reference (average borrower debt ~$29–38K; sources vary), not a guarantee for any specific school or major.
Getting started — your first moves
- 1
Find an apprenticeship
Apply to a registered apprenticeship — you earn a paycheck from day one while you train, instead of paying tuition.
- 2
Earn your first credential
Study for and pass the ARRT — Registered Technologist (Radiography).
- 3
Get hired and grow
Land an entry role and start building experience — pay climbs as you move up the career ladder above.
See it where you live
The figures above are national. Pay and programs vary a lot by state — pick yours and we'll send you straight to the official local data, no guessing.
Career ladder
Radiologic Technologist (entry, general radiography)
Entry$73,410Entry; general radiography is foundation
Training: 2-year AAS in Radiologic Technology + ARRT exam + state license
CT or MRI Technologist (multi-modality)
Year 3$90,000Major wage jump; multi-modality flexibility valued
Training: Additional ARRT cert in specialty modality
Vascular Interventional Tech (Cath Lab) or Senior Multi-modality
Year 7$115,000Top-tier rad tech specialty; cath lab work commands premium
Training: ARRT VIR + advanced clinical experience
State licensure
Data limitations
- • BLS OEWS May 2025 per-occupation detail tables not yet pushed
- • Wage figures used BLS-canonical estimate; direct verification recommended
- • Per-state and per-MSA rad tech wage tables
- • state_licensure_details — Priority 1 in C2
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