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The differences between imaging assistants and imaging technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an imaging assistant and an imaging technologist. Additionally, an imaging technologist has an average salary of $49,786, which is higher than the $33,188 average annual salary of an imaging assistant.
The top three skills for an imaging assistant include patients, patient care and BLS. The most important skills for an imaging technologist are patients, patient care, and customer service.
| Imaging Assistant | Imaging Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,188 | $49,786 |
| Hourly rate | $15.96 | $23.94 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 25,940 | 55,397 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Imaging Assistants are responsible for providing operational and administrative support to the radiologist. Their duties include scheduling examination, organize work assignments, conduct imaging room set up, patient verification, explaining procedures to patient and family as well as help in the patient transfers from and to beds, wheelchairs, and carts. They are responsible for maintaining the supplies room, manage patient exam records, establish proper billing, and report equipment malfunction. Imaging Assistants ensures patient comfort, engage in ethical conduct, and make sure work adheres to regulatory requirements.
An imaging technologist is responsible for performing diagnostic imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging scans, X-ray examination, and computed tomography. Your day-to-day duties include working closely with physicians and radiologists in diagnosing or ruling out disease or injury, operating and maintaining imaging equipment, and assisting patients in preparation for imaging procedures. As an imaging technologist, it is also your responsibility to follow precise instructions in order to capture a high-quality image and assisting physicians in evaluating images.
Imaging assistants and imaging technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Imaging Assistant | Imaging Technologist | |
| Average salary | $33,188 | $49,786 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $50,000 | Between $33,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an imaging assistant and an imaging technologist in terms of educational background:
| Imaging Assistant | Imaging Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between imaging assistants' and imaging technologists' demographics:
| Imaging Assistant | Imaging Technologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0% | Male, 47.6% Female, 52.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |