Radiology is a fascinating and fundamental aspect of medicine. And an integral role in the practice of radiology is that of the radiologic technician/technologist who operates the machinery and perform diagnostic imagining examinations. This career path is quite promising right now. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), there are currently over 271,000 radiology technicians in the United States. And that figure is projected to grow by 6%, which is faster than the overall average, over the next 10 years.
Using the latest occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we looked at the average salary for “radiologic technologists and technicians”, as defined by the BLS, every U.S. state, both current wages and over the last five years.
So, read on to find out what the average radiology tech salary is in every state, and where they earn the most.
10 States Where Radiology Tech Salaries Are Highest
The national average annual wage of a radiology tech is $75,250, according to the BLS, which is a solid $10,000 more than the average annual wage for all occupations, $65,470. Depending on the state, however, the average salary of a radiology technician can vary significantly. Radiology tech salaries are heavily dependent on the cost of living in each state.
Below is a list of the top-10 highest-paying states for radiology techs:
- California average radiology tech salary: $103,150
- Massachusetts average radiology tech salary: $93,270
- Hawaii average radiology tech salary: $92,170
- Oregon average radiology tech salary: $90,610
- Washington average radiology tech salary: $89,910
- Alaska average radiology tech salary: $87,180
- Nevada average radiology tech salary: $86,570
- Connecticut average radiology tech salary: $85,380
- New York average radiology tech salary: $85,330
- Rhode Island average radiology tech salary: $83,230
In California, the average salary for radiology techs is close to $30,000 more than the national average, $103,150 vs. $75,250. The gap between the No. 1 best-paying state, California, and the No. 2 state, Massachusetts, is roughly $10,000. For the most part, radiologic technologist salaries follow the relative costs of living of each state. Thus, the lowest paying state for radiology techs is Mississippi, where they earn an average of $25.80 an hour and $53,660 a year.
10 States Where Radiology Tech Salaries Are Lowest
The bottom-10 states where radiology techs make the least money are heavily concentrated in the U.S. South, where cost of living is lower compared to the nation overall. In Mississippi, the lowest-paying state, radiology techs earn over $20,000 less than the national average. It should be noted, however, that only 18 states have radiology tech salaries that are higher than the national average.
Here’s a look at the bottom-10 states for radiology tech salaries:
- Mississippi average radiology tech salary: $53,660
- Alabama average radiology tech salary: $56,670
- Arkansas average radiology tech salary: $59,470
- Louisiana average radiology tech salary: $61,480
- Iowa average radiology tech salary: $62,550
- Tennessee average radiology tech salary: $62,710
- South Carolina average radiology tech salary: $62,980
- Kentucky average radiology tech salary: $63,520
- South Dakota average radiology tech salary: $63,590
- West Virginia average radiology tech salary: $64,580
In every single state, the average radiology tech salary has gone up in the last five years ago. Of course, though, a lot of that is accounted for by inflation. So, it is the growth rates, rather than whether the growth was positive or negative, is what’s important. Mississippi has the lowest growth rate in radiologic technologist salaries, increasing by 11.4% from 2018’s $48,150 to 2023’s $53,660. In West Virginia, by contrast, radiology tech wages have surged by 29.8%, from $49,740 to $64,580.
How Much Do Radiology Techs Make in Each State
Below you’ll find the average annual wage for radiology techs in all 50 states based on the latest data, from May 2023, according to the BLS.
The state with the biggest growth in radiology tech salaries over the last five years is West Virginia. Pennsylvania witnessed excellent gains, with radiologic technician wages increasing by 29.4%, from $53,640 to $69,420. Delaware was no slouch either, seeing its average radiology tech salary rising by 27.7%, from $60,550 to $77,350. California, the highest-paying state, has seen radiology tech salaries increase by a little over 27.3% over the same period, which is also among the fastest growth rates.
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