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The differences between nuclear medicine technologists and doctors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a doctor has an average salary of $208,582, which is higher than the $72,978 average annual salary of a nuclear medicine technologist.
The top three skills for a nuclear medicine technologist include patients, PET and radiopharmaceuticals. The most important skills for a doctor are patients, customer service, and emergency medicine.
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Doctor | |
| Yearly salary | $72,978 | $208,582 |
| Hourly rate | $35.09 | $100.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 56,975 | 14,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
The job of a nuclear medicine technologist is to examine how the body functions to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and medical conditions. These professionals perform various tasks that include preparing and administering radiopharmaceuticals and other medications to patients, monitoring a patient's physical condition during the procedure, and providing patient information, images, and data analysis for diagnosis and treatment. They are expected to answer patients' questions and explain the procedure to them. Nuclear medical technologists are also required to follow radiation safety procedures.
A doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.
Nuclear medicine technologists and doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Doctor | |
| Average salary | $72,978 | $208,582 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $151,000 | Between $106,000 And $408,000 |
| Highest paying City | Modesto, CA | Green Bay, WI |
| Highest paying state | California | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Community Medical Center | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nuclear medicine technologist and a doctor in terms of educational background:
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Doctor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Nuclear And Industrial Radiologic Technologies | Medicine |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between nuclear medicine technologists' and doctors' demographics:
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Doctor | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 9.9% White, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 22% | 13% |