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The differences between nuclear medicine technologists and radiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a nuclear medicine technologist, becoming a radiologist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a radiologist has an average salary of $298,405, 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 radiologist are patients, pacs, and patient care.
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiologist | |
| Yearly salary | $72,978 | $298,405 |
| Hourly rate | $35.09 | $143.46 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 56,975 | 1,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
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 radiologist is responsible for interpreting and evaluating medical image results to diagnose medical conditions and refer to medical professionals for immediate treatment plans. Radiologists analyze the patient's medical history to determine their medical conditions before the radiology procedure. They utilize various high-level machinery, requiring them to have strong knowledge of operating the equipment to ensure accurate results and reports. A radiologist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in discussing the medical processes to the patients and responding to any inquiries and concerns they may have.
Nuclear medicine technologists and radiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiologist | |
| Average salary | $72,978 | $298,405 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $151,000 | Between $124,000 And $714,000 |
| Highest paying City | Modesto, CA | Rochester, MN |
| Highest paying state | California | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Community Medical Center | Allina Health |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a nuclear medicine technologist and a radiologist in terms of educational background:
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Nuclear And Industrial Radiologic Technologies | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | Texas A&M University |
Here are the differences between nuclear medicine technologists' and radiologists' demographics:
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiologist | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| 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, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 22% | 13% |