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Nuclear Medicine Technologists: Career Overview
Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
What Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Take On?
The core tasks performed by nuclear medicine technologists include:
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
- Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- Record and process results of procedures.
- Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
- Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
- Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top nuclear medicine technologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Nuclear Medicine Technologists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT)
- Isotope Technician
- Isotope Technologist
- Medical Radiation Dosimetrist
- Nuclear Cardiology Technologist
- Nuclear Medical Technologist
- Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Technologist (Nuclear Medicine Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography Technologist)
- Nuclear Medicine Technician
Employment and Demand
There are about 1,364,528 nuclear medicine technologists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +9.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $119,042 |
| Hourly median | $57.23 |
| 10th percentile | $74,375 |
| 25th percentile | $96,708 |
| 75th percentile | $141,376 |
| 90th percentile | $163,709 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $155,220 |
| Hawaii | $124,380 |
| Washington | $121,090 |
| District of Columbia | $114,750 |
| New Jersey | $111,000 |
| Oregon | $110,600 |
| Massachusetts | $110,340 |
| New York | $109,020 |
| Colorado | $108,900 |
| Rhode Island | $107,950 |
| Nevada | $107,670 |
| Connecticut | $107,050 |
| Utah | $106,720 |
| Nebraska | $104,270 |
| Minnesota | $103,850 |
| Illinois | $101,840 |
| New Hampshire | $99,900 |
| Idaho | $99,000 |
| North Dakota | $98,730 |
| Arizona | $98,720 |
| Missouri | $97,400 |
| Montana | $97,000 |
| Virginia | $96,820 |
| Indiana | $96,780 |
| Maryland | $96,560 |
| Texas | $96,060 |
| Delaware | $96,040 |
| Maine | $95,230 |
| Ohio | $94,450 |
| Georgia | $89,450 |
| Michigan | $89,300 |
| Oklahoma | $89,150 |
| Florida | $88,450 |
| Kentucky | $87,990 |
| Wisconsin | $87,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,320 |
| New Mexico | $84,860 |
| South Carolina | $84,420 |
| Kansas | $84,210 |
| North Carolina | $83,820 |
| Iowa | $83,590 |
| Louisiana | $82,540 |
| West Virginia | $82,470 |
| Mississippi | $81,020 |
| Tennessee | $80,470 |
| Alabama | $79,230 |
| South Dakota | $79,060 |
| Arkansas | $75,150 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,040 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for nuclear medicine technologists vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $142,791 | 11.9% | 0.71 |
| New England | $106,586 | 4.1% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $105,202 | 2.6% | 0.68 |
| Middle Atlantic | $101,496 | 16.4% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $95,771 | 10.5% | 0.93 |
| Great Lakes | $94,261 | 16.0% | 1.16 |
| Plains States | $92,439 | 6.9% | 1.28 |
| Southeast | $86,076 | 30.6% | 1.31 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $183,820 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $182,530 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $167,020 | 120 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $157,160 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $156,190 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $145,190 | 460 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $134,880 | 160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $128,540 | 190 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of nuclear medicine technologists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 16,250 | $97,290 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 100 | $103,160 |
| Educational Services | 100 | $106,870 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 60 | $99,840 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for nuclear medicine technologists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Radiation
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Most nuclear medicine technologists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Primary-Short)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Primary-Short)
- Cytogenetic Technologists (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for nuclear medicine technologists typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2033.00 (Nuclear Medicine Technologists).
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