X-ray technicians see bone injuries.
Until bones become impenetrable or people adopt a protective bubble as they head out into the world, broken arms, legs, ribs and other internal damage will continue to happen. After suffering such injuries, patients visit X-ray technicians, more formally known as radiologic technicians, who earn their salaries by training on specialty machinery to see inside the human form.
The X Factor
Radiologic technicians numbered 213,560 in 2009, with the median salary for the field at $53,240. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the field of X-ray technology to grow by 17 percent and add 37,000 jobs nationwide through 2018. As for the range of earnings, the lowest-paid X-ray techs received $35,700, while the highest-paid in the field received $75,440.
Top Industries
Scientific research and development services topped the BLS list as the highest-paying industry for the X-ray technician profession, paying $64,800. Consulting services for the profession also paid higher-than-average wages, at $61,970, as did employment services, at $59,620. Specialty hospitals paid their X-ray technicians an above-average salary of $58,320. While general medical and surgical hospitals were the largest employer of X-ray technicians and did pay annual higher-than-average wage of $54,770, they did not make the BLS top five best-paying list.
Highest Paying States
The states paying the highest salaries for their X-ray technicians were spread across the country. Massachusetts earned first place with the highest salaries of $68,530. Technicians employed in Nevada earned the second-highest salaries, at $66,420. Maryland's radiologic technicians earned $65,820, while those in Hawaii received $63,470. The District of Columbia's X-ray technicians were close behind at $63,270. Although West Virginia was the largest employer of X-ray technicians, its annual salary of $41,400 was considerably lower than average.
Back to Basics
While the BLS did not account for level of education or experience in its salary study, the baseline minimum for entry into the X-ray technician field is a certificate or diploma in radiologic technology. The majority of prospective X-ray techs pursue a two-year associate degree from one of the hundreds of community colleges and technical schools accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, which also does accredit four-year bachelor's degree programs and higher. Level of education and degree may impact an X-ray technician's salary.
