How Much Do Radiology Techs Make in 2026? (X-Ray Tech Salary Guide)

Updated

Radiology technologists in the US earn $65,140 on average for general X-ray, with specialized modalities like CT and MRI commanding significantly higher pay.

Average Radiology Tech Salary in 2026

Metric Amount
Average rad tech salary $65,140
Median rad tech salary $61,370
Entry level (0-2 years) $50,000
Mid-career (5-10 years) $65,000-$75,000
Experienced (10+ years) $75,000-$85,000
Top 10% earn $93,000+
Hourly rate (average) $31.32

Radiology Tech Salary by Modality/Specialty

Specialty/Modality Average Salary Certification
General X-Ray (Radiographer) $65,140 ARRT (R)
CT Technologist $77,000 ARRT (CT)
MRI Technologist $82,000 ARRT (MR)
Mammography Tech $72,000 ARRT (M)
Interventional Radiology $88,000 ARRT (VI)
Nuclear Medicine Tech $85,000 ARRT (N) or NMTCB
PET/CT Technologist $85,000 ARRT (CT) + (N)
Radiation Therapist $90,000 ARRT (T)
Sonographer (Ultrasound) $78,000 ARDMS
Cardiac Sonographer $82,000 RDCS

Why MRI and Interventional Pay More

Higher-paying modalities require:

  • Additional certifications
  • More complex equipment
  • Specialized patient care
  • Greater technical skill
  • Longer training periods

Radiology Tech Salary by Experience

Experience Level X-Ray Tech CT Tech MRI Tech
New Grad (0-1 year) $50,000 $60,000 $65,000
Early Career (1-3 years) $55,000 $68,000 $72,000
Mid-Career (4-7 years) $62,000 $75,000 $80,000
Experienced (8-12 years) $70,000 $82,000 $88,000
Senior/Lead Tech $75,000 $88,000 $95,000
Supervisor/Manager $85,000+ $95,000+ $100,000+

Rad Tech Salary by State (Highest Paying)

State Average Salary Cost of Living
California $90,000 Very High
Oregon $78,000 High
Washington $77,000 High
Hawaii $76,000 Very High
Massachusetts $75,000 High
Alaska $74,000 High
New York $73,000 Very High
Nevada $72,000 High
Connecticut $72,000 High
New Jersey $71,000 High

Lowest Paying States

State Average Salary
Alabama $50,000
West Virginia $51,000
Mississippi $51,000
Arkansas $52,000
Louisiana $53,000

Rad Tech Salary by Work Setting

Setting Average Salary Notes
Travel Rad Tech $90,000-$120,000 + housing stipend
Hospital (Acute Care) $68,000-$85,000 Benefits, shifts
Outpatient Imaging Center $62,000-$78,000 Regular hours
Physician Office $55,000-$68,000 Lower pay, stable
Urgent Care $58,000-$72,000 Growing demand
Mobile Imaging $65,000-$80,000 Travel locally
Government/VA $70,000-$85,000 Benefits, pension

Travel Rad Tech Salary

Travel radiology techs earn significantly more:

Modality Weekly Pay Annual (52 weeks)
X-Ray $1,800-$2,400 $93,600-$124,800
CT $2,200-$2,800 $114,400-$145,600
MRI $2,400-$3,100 $124,800-$161,200
Interventional $2,600-$3,400 $135,200-$176,800

Weekly pay includes tax-free housing stipends

Shift Differentials for Rad Techs

Shift Typical Differential
Evening (3pm-11pm) +$2-4/hour
Night (11pm-7am) +$3-6/hour
Weekend +$2-5/hour
On-call +$3-5/hour standby
Holiday Time-and-a-half

Night and weekend shifts can add $4,000-$10,000 annually.

Rad Tech Salary After Taxes

Gross Salary Federal Tax FICA State Tax (avg) Take-Home
$55,000 $5,000 $4,208 $2,200 $43,592
$65,140 $7,100 $4,983 $2,606 $50,451
$80,000 $10,600 $6,120 $3,200 $60,080
$100,000 $15,000 $7,650 $4,000 $73,350

How to Increase Rad Tech Salary

  1. Add CT or MRI certification — $10K-$15K salary increase
  2. Become a travel rad tech — Earn $90K-$120K+
  3. Get multiple modalities — Multi-modality techs earn more
  4. Work night/weekend shifts — $4K-$10K annual premium
  5. Move to high-paying states — California pays $90K average
  6. Pursue interventional radiology — Highest paying specialty
  7. Move into management — Supervisors earn $85K-$100K+

Career Advancement Path

Role Average Salary Requirements
X-Ray Tech $65,140 ARRT (R)
CT/MRI Tech $77,000-$82,000 Additional ARRT cert
Lead Technologist $80,000-$90,000 Experience + leadership
Shift Supervisor $85,000-$95,000 5+ years
Imaging Manager $95,000-$115,000 Bachelor’s preferred
Director of Radiology $120,000-$150,000 Bachelor’s/Master’s

Job Outlook for Radiology Techs

Metric Data
Projected growth (2022-2032) 6% (faster than average)
Annual job openings 14,100
Demand drivers Aging population, imaging technology advances
Hot areas MRI, CT, Interventional

Rad Tech vs Other Healthcare Salaries

Role Average Salary Education
MRI Technologist $82,000 Associate + cert
CT Technologist $77,000 Associate + cert
Sonographer $78,000 Associate
Radiology Tech (X-Ray) $65,140 Associate
Registered Nurse $81,220 Associate/Bachelor’s
Respiratory Therapist $70,540 Associate

Is Radiology Tech a Good Career?

Pros:

  • Good salary with room for growth (specializations)
  • Associate degree entry point
  • Clear advancement path (CT/MRI/IR)
  • Travel rad tech option for high earners
  • Less physically demanding than nursing
  • Technology-focused work

Cons:

  • Radiation exposure concerns
  • Shift work required (nights, weekends)
  • Patient handling can be physical
  • Emotional situations (trauma, cancer)
  • Continuing education requirements

Rad Tech Education & Certification Costs

Expense Cost
Radiography Associate Degree $15,000-$40,000
ARRT Exam (Primary) $225
Additional Modality (CT, MRI) $225 each
State License $50-$150/year
CEU Requirements $200-$400/year
ARRT Renewal $30/year

Bottom Line

Radiology technologists earn $65,140/year for general X-ray, with CT techs earning $77,000, MRI techs earning $82,000, and interventional rad techs earning $88,000+. Travel rad techs across all modalities can earn $90,000-$120,000+. Adding certifications in CT, MRI, or interventional radiology is the fastest path to higher pay.

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