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What is a nuclear medicine technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Nuclear medicine technologists are healthcare professionals specialized in the use of radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and heal diseases. This complex branch of medicine is centered around the use of small amounts of radioactive substances for medical practices.

With specialized camera systems that detect radiopharmaceuticals in the body, technologists create precise pictures of areas and organs supposedly affected by disease. This way they can monitor tissues and identify an array of different conditions.

As a nuclear medicine technologist, you will work with patients, analyzing their medical histories and administering radiopharmaceuticals to create images of their relevant body parts and carry out treatment. You will process and evaluate data from the images to arrive to a correct diagnosis and plan adequate therapeutic processes. An education in medicine will be necessary to take on this role, a bachelor's degree being the minimum requirement.

ScoreNuclear Medicine TechnologistUS Average
Salary
5.7

Avg. Salary $72,978

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.6

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%

Asian 9.87%

Black or African American 8.01%

Hispanic or Latino 8.54%

Unknown 3.20%

White 69.92%

Gender

female 53.63%

male 46.37%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Nuclear medicine technologist career paths

Key steps to become a nuclear medicine technologist

  1. Explore nuclear medicine technologist education requirements

    Most common nuclear medicine technologist degrees

    Bachelor's

    45.2 %

    Associate

    38.8 %

    Certificate

    8.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific nuclear medicine technologist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients24.44%
    PET11.08%
    Radiopharmaceuticals6.98%
    Radiology6.43%
    Nuclear Medicine Procedures5.15%
  3. Complete relevant nuclear medicine technologist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nuclear medicine 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 nuclear medicine technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nuclear medicine technologist resumes.
  4. Gain additional nuclear medicine technologist certifications

    Nuclear medicine 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 nuclear medicine technologist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for nuclear medicine technologists include Certification in Nuclear Medicine and Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research nuclear medicine technologist duties and responsibilities

    • Develop and lead training preparation for combat.
    • Manage the design and synthesis of compounds by teams of CRO chemists working in concert with the internal teams.
    • Certify in BLS and ACLS.
    • General nuclear medicine exams, perform all QC, iv certify.
  6. Prepare your nuclear medicine technologist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nuclear medicine 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 nuclear medicine 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 nuclear medicine technologist resume templates

    Build a professional nuclear medicine 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 nuclear medicine technologist resume.
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    Nuclear Medicine Technologist Resume
  7. Apply for nuclear medicine technologist jobs

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

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Average nuclear medicine technologist salary

The average nuclear medicine technologist salary in the United States is $72,978 per year or $35 per hour. Nuclear medicine technologist salaries range between $35,000 and $151,000 per year.

Average nuclear medicine technologist salary
$72,978 Yearly
$35.09 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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