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The differences between imaging specialists and imaging technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an imaging specialist, becoming an imaging technologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an imaging technologist has an average salary of $49,786, which is higher than the $34,003 average annual salary of an imaging specialist.
The top three skills for an imaging specialist include patients, patient care and radiology. The most important skills for an imaging technologist are patients, patient care, and customer service.
| Imaging Specialist | Imaging Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $34,003 | $49,786 |
| Hourly rate | $16.35 | $23.94 |
| Growth rate | - | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 21,696 | 55,397 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
The duties of an imaging specialist depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities include meeting with clients to identify their needs, editing and scanning images, performing color corrections on photographs and other forms of image manipulation, and creating digital rendings of photos and videos. There are also instances where an imaging specialist may work together with photographers, artists, and graphic designers, all functioning in adherence to the goals and vision of a project.
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 specialists and imaging technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Imaging Specialist | Imaging Technologist | |
| Average salary | $34,003 | $49,786 |
| Salary range | Between $15,000 And $75,000 | Between $33,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trumbull, CT | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an imaging specialist and an imaging technologist in terms of educational background:
| Imaging Specialist | Imaging Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between imaging specialists' and imaging technologists' demographics:
| Imaging Specialist | Imaging Technologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 47.6% Female, 52.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 11% | 8% |