What is a Radiologic Technician?
Radiologic Technician Definition Maintain and use equipment and supplies necessary to demonstrate portions of the human body on x-ray film or fluoroscopic screen for diagnostic purposes.
What Do Radiologic Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Position x-ray equipment and adjust controls to set exposure factors, such as time and distance.
- Explain procedures to patients to reduce anxieties and obtain cooperation.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
- Provide assistance in radiopharmaceutical administration, monitoring patients’ vital signs and notifying the radiologist of any relevant changes.
- Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
- Determine patients’ x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
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Radiologic Technician Needed Skills
When polled, Radiologic Technicians 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.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Medical Imaging Technician
- Radiologic Technician (RAD Tech)
- Radiology Aide
- Radiography Technician
- Radiological Technician
Radiologic Technician Employment Estimates
There were about 127,800 jobs for Radiologic Technician in 2016 (in the United States). 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.

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 average yearly salary of a Radiologic Technician ranges between $28,130 and $72,720.

Radiologic Technicians who work in New Mexico, Alaska, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Radiologic Technicians make in each U.S. state?
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 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
Becoming a Radiologic Technician
Individuals working as a Radiologic Technician have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Radiologic Technician?

Radiologic Technicians Sector

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

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Radiologic Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
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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