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What is a nuclear medicine physician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
John Colclough

Nuclear medicine is an area in radiology that is involved in the analysis of the function and structure of organs using relatively small quantities of radioactive materials or radiopharmaceuticals. This area is typically used to see the early progression of a disease such as thyroid cancer. And the person who administers the diagnosis and treats abnormalities is called a nuclear medicine physician.

Nuclear medicine physicians specialize in treatments that use radioactive materials. They are vital professionals that ensure that patients receive appropriate medical tests and treatments safely. In general, they see patients who are referred to them by other medical practitioners and have extensive knowledge on how to use radioactive materials to determine how the organ of the patient functions.

Since their jobs may entail large-scale surgical instruments, they typically work in a hospital. Nuclear medicine physicians should earn their bachelor's degree first, and then become a Doctor of Medicine. A preparatory training and a two-year residency in nuclear medicine are required for all students. They must be meticulous and diligent to ensure that they get all of the knowledge they need from medical examinations.

What general advice would you give to a nuclear medicine physician?

John Colclough

Professor, Marshall University

Be patient and stay informed. Many performers think their career is about the work in the rehearsal hall or in performance-not so, the real work is in the management of your business. Being an authority of WHO, WHAT and WHERE is key. WHO are the players in your market? The directors, actors, casting people, producing organizations, etc...these are who you need to know-your network. WHAT opportunities exist in your market? The theatres, video companies, universities (if you have an MFA you may be able to teach a class or two), Improvisation groups, any opportunity that allows you to grow your brand is worth your attention. And finally, WHERE are the opportunities-knowing your community and having a sense of how each company fits into the fabric of the community. Having a sense of where the company resides both geographically and virtually (web sites) and having a solid knowledge base of details of each company can inform your marketing tactics as well as provide you with specific details unique to each organization. Careers develop over time and keeping expectations realistic over the first year can be challenging. Be practical and methodical in your approach: save money (there's never enough), find a place to live (the best you can afford), find a side hustle (you're going to need money and routine), find out the lay of the land (WHO, WHAT, and WHERE), develop your skill set (take a class and meet colleagues), go to productions, screenings, workshops, document your growth (keep a journal or calendar to track your progress), celebrate your successes and be patient with your stumbles-Hard knocks are the best teachers!
ScoreNuclear Medicine PhysicianUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $204,752

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.4

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 19.91%

Black or African American 3.79%

Hispanic or Latino 6.43%

Unknown 4.09%

White 65.62%

Gender

female 36.84%

male 63.16%

Age - 48
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 - 48
Stress level
8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a nuclear medicine physician

  1. Explore nuclear medicine physician education requirements

    Most common nuclear medicine physician degrees

    Doctorate

    37.5 %

    Certificate

    37.5 %

    Bachelor's

    12.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific nuclear medicine physician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Acls38.35%
    Nuclear Medicine32.43%
    Thyroid29.21%
  3. Complete relevant nuclear medicine physician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nuclear medicine physicians 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 nuclear medicine physician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nuclear medicine physician resumes.
  4. Research nuclear medicine physician duties and responsibilities

    • Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
    • Perform minor procedures and suturing.
  5. Apply for nuclear medicine physician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a nuclear medicine physician 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 nuclear medicine physician job

Zippi

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Average nuclear medicine physician salary

The average nuclear medicine physician salary in the United States is $204,752 per year or $98 per hour. Nuclear medicine physician salaries range between $100,000 and $417,000 per year.

Average nuclear medicine physician salary
$204,752 Yearly
$98.44 hourly

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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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