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What is a cat scan technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A cat scan technologist uses an X-ray to take images of a patient's body. He/She or she detects internal injuries and diagnoses disease. This person often interprets radiological images after performing examinations on clients. As you must have guessed, cat scan technologists work in hospitals, clinics, research laboratories, and other medical facilities.

You must have a bachelor's degree program in radiologic technology and a state license as a radiologic technologist to be a cat scan technologist. Mostly, individuals with a bachelor's degree in radiology try to study more to start a career as a cat scan technologist.

The salary a cat scan technologist earns differs because factors like the position you hold influence it. A low-level cat scan technologist earns $57,239 per year, while senior technologists earn $66,056 per year. People with one to two years' experience or less averagely earn $46,156 per year, while technologists with six to 10 years of experience earn as much as $55,920 per year.

ScoreCat Scan TechnologistUS Average
Salary
4.8

Avg. Salary $61,874

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 6.05%

Black or African American 5.39%

Hispanic or Latino 10.19%

Unknown 4.14%

White 73.75%

Gender

female 53.61%

male 46.39%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
8.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Cat scan technologist career paths

Key steps to become a cat scan technologist

  1. Explore cat scan technologist education requirements

    Most common cat scan technologist degrees

    Associate

    62.7 %

    Bachelor's

    22.6 %

    Certificate

    8.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific cat scan technologist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients16.92%
    CT14.03%
    ARRT10.19%
    Radiology9.35%
    Ct Scan5.25%
  3. Complete relevant cat scan technologist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cat scan technologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cat scan technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cat scan technologist resumes.
  4. Gain additional cat scan technologist certifications

    Cat scan technologist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific cat scan technologist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for cat scan technologists include Certified Radiological Technologist and Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research cat scan technologist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage orders and workflow with GE Centricity RIS and Cerner software.
    • Perform QC and QA duties.
    • Order all supplies, independently perform all MRI procedures.
    • Use of PACS system as well as digital processors.
  6. Prepare your cat scan technologist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cat scan technologist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cat scan technologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable cat scan technologist resume templates

    Build a professional cat scan technologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cat scan technologist resume.
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
    Cat Scan Technologist Resume
  7. Apply for cat scan technologist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cat scan technologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first cat scan technologist job

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Average cat scan technologist salary

The average cat scan technologist salary in the United States is $61,874 per year or $30 per hour. Cat scan technologist salaries range between $34,000 and $109,000 per year.

Average cat scan technologist salary
$61,874 Yearly
$29.75 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do cat scan technologists rate their job?

3/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Cat scan technologist reviews

profile
3.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

use of advanced technology to help diagnose and treat people for their illnesses

Cons

people who are rude and demanding and refuse to acknowledge that they are not the only person needing the service- and complain about waiting and wanting things done faster


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

Is an experience that will make you love humanity and be kind to others ,using technology to help people get better is extremely rewarding , also the flexibility to work in different places with different people is a plus.

Cons

Most places need more CT techs ,we can't have enough people ,petty sure hospital in the world is understaffed .


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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