How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make?

The median pay is $48.74 per hour — roughly $101,500 a year, with the real range running from about $37.54/hr (10th percentile) to $64.66/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a nuclear medicine technologist?

The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

What does a nuclear medicine technologist actually do all day?

Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician. Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images. Process cardiac function studies, using computer.

Health Care

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

What it pays
Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn a median of $48.74/hr — about $101,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $37.54/hr; the top 10% earn $64.66/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
Record and process results of procedures.
Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Associate degree. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors; you're around people constantly; time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 13.7% of nuclear medicine technologists are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, analytical and organized and detail-focused.

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Quick questions

How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make?: The median pay is $48.74 per hour — roughly $101,500 a year, with the real range running from about $37.54/hr (10th percentile) to $64.66/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a nuclear medicine technologist?: The typical entry-level education is: Associate degree. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a nuclear medicine technologist actually do all day?: Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician. Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images. Process cardiac function studies, using computer.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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