What is a Radiologic Technologist?
Job Description & Duties 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.
List of Radiologic Technologist Job Duties
- Monitor video display of area being scanned and adjust density or contrast to improve picture quality.
- Demonstrate new equipment, procedures, or techniques to staff and provide technical assistance.
- Monitor patients’ conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
- 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.
- Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Radiologic Technologist?
These are the skills Radiologic Technologists say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Types of Radiologic Technologist
- CT Scan Special Procedures Technologist
- Mammography Technologist
- Ultrasound Technologist
- CAT Scan Technologist (Computed Axial Tomography Technologist)
- Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist
Is There Job Demand for Radiologic Technologists?
In the United States, there were 205,200 jobs for Radiologic Technologist in 2016. 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. The BLS estimates 13,600 yearly job openings in this field.

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
Radiologic Technologists make between $40,630 and $86,350 a year.

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
Becoming a Radiologic Technologist
Are there Radiologic Technologists education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Radiologic Technologist?

Who Employs Radiologic Technologists?

Below are examples of industries where Radiologic Technologists work:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Radiologic Technologist might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
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