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The differences between nuclear medicine technologists and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a nuclear medicine technologist and a nurse. Additionally, a nuclear medicine technologist has an average salary of $72,978, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.
The top three skills for a nuclear medicine technologist include patients, PET and radiopharmaceuticals. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $72,978 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $35.09 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 56,975 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Nuclear medicine technologists and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $72,978 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $151,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Modesto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Community Medical Center | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a nuclear medicine technologist and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Nuclear And Industrial Radiologic Technologies | Nursing |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between nuclear medicine technologists' and nurses' demographics:
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Nurse | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 22% | 9% |