Is radiography a good career?

Yes, radiography is a good career. In fact, a 2020 survey found that 84% of radiograph technologists report feeling satisfied to very satisfied in their careers, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. The survey also found that radiologic technologists value job security, opportunities for learning and growth, and the ability to help others. Additionally, radiologic technologists have reported feeling proud of the work they do, as they play a critical role in helping diagnose and treat patients.

How To Become A Radiographer Technologist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a radiographer technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Karen Bubb

The average radiographer technologist salary is $54,520. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an medical technician major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a radiographer technologist. Radiographer technologists with a Certified Radiological Technologist certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 17,000 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a radiographer technologist?

Karen Bubb

Department Head, Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Medical Imaging, Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

In the fields of Radiologic Technology and Medical Sonography, continuous learning is the key to a long-term career. Never assume you know it all because there is always something new and innovative to learn. New technological advancements are continuously being released and it is vital to keep up with the newest techniques. The more you know and the more relevant you are in the professions; the more employers will seek you out and compensate you for your expertise. Also, do not get into bad habits when it comes to ergonomics. Musculoskeletal injuries are common in sonographers and can ruin a budding career fast.

ScoreRadiographer TechnologistUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $54,520

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 6.05%

Black or African American 5.39%

Hispanic or Latino 10.19%

Unknown 4.14%

White 73.75%

Gender

female 51.39%

male 48.61%

Age - 43

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 - 43

Stress level

8.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a radiographer technologist

Explore radiographer technologist education requirements

Most common radiographer technologist degrees

Associate

67.1 %

Bachelor's

18.9 %

High School Diploma

7.4 %

Start to develop specific radiographer technologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	19.69%
Surgery	9.53%
ARRT	8.03%
Fluoroscopic Procedures	6.63%
MRI	5.10%

Complete relevant radiographer technologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New radiographer 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 radiographer technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real radiographer technologist resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed radiographer technologist usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed radiographer technologist in most of states. 32 states require radiographer technologists to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alaska	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Radiologic Technologists
Arkansas	Degree required	Both state and third-party exams required	Radiologic Technologist (Radiographer)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	California Radiologic Technologist (CRT)
Colorado	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Radiologic Technologists
Connecticut	Specific course required	Third-party exam required	Radiographer

Research radiographer technologist duties and responsibilities

Used EMR software to manage patient records and files while ensuring patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA.
Maintain all records for MQSA standards and quality control tests.
Account for corrections as necessary before routing images to the printer, workstation or PACS system.
Master radiology information systems including PACS and order entry.

Prepare your radiographer technologist resume

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

Build a professional radiographer 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 radiographer technologist resume.

Apply for radiographer technologist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a radiographer technologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do radiographer technologists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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1 star

Radiographer technologist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020

Pros

use of advanced technology to help diagnose and treat people for their illnesses

Cons

people who are rude and demanding and refuse to acknowledge that they are not the only person needing the service- and complain about waiting and wanting things done faster