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Staff radiographer vs diagnostic technician

The differences between staff radiographers and diagnostic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a staff radiographer and a diagnostic technician. Additionally, a staff radiographer has an average salary of $57,925, which is higher than the $49,571 average annual salary of a diagnostic technician.

The top three skills for a staff radiographer include registry, patients and radiology. The most important skills for a diagnostic technician are patients, patient care, and CPR.

Staff radiographer vs diagnostic technician overview

Staff RadiographerDiagnostic Technician
Yearly salary$57,925$49,571
Hourly rate$27.85$23.83
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs90,92070,089
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 70%Associate Degree, 41%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

Staff radiographer vs diagnostic technician salary

Staff radiographers and diagnostic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Staff RadiographerDiagnostic Technician
Average salary$57,925$49,571
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $100,000Between $31,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City-Fresno, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Waymo
Best paying industry-Telecommunication

Differences between staff radiographer and diagnostic technician education

There are a few differences between a staff radiographer and a diagnostic technician in terms of educational background:

Staff RadiographerDiagnostic Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 70%Associate Degree, 41%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianMedical Technician
Most common collegeTexas A&M UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Staff radiographer vs diagnostic technician demographics

Here are the differences between staff radiographers' and diagnostic technicians' demographics:

Staff RadiographerDiagnostic Technician
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between staff radiographer and diagnostic technician duties and responsibilities

Staff radiographer example responsibilities.

  • Reason for leaving are to attain MRI employment and more experience.
  • Accomplish surgical studies utilizing a portable c-arm digital fluoroscopic machine under the direction of a physician.
  • Register all patients for radiology exam using meditech and ECW.
  • Train on PACS in both modalities.
  • Perform routine x-rays, mammo's, and dexa's.
  • Work with digital PACS program and train as a super user.
  • Show more

Diagnostic technician example responsibilities.

  • Establish work procedures for the radiology staff.
  • Perform EKG testing on both inpatients and outpatients.
  • Assist in daily maintenance and troubleshooting of PACS.
  • Perform RNA and DNA extraction by using Qiagen kit.
  • Perform cardiology and EKG procedures as directed by medical staff.
  • Operated/Manage ECG, a, and DCG as needed per MD orders.
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Staff radiographer vs diagnostic technician skills

Common staff radiographer skills
  • Registry, 12%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Radiology, 10%
  • Radiation Safety, 9%
  • Fluoroscopy, 6%
  • C-Arm, 6%
Common diagnostic technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 16%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Radiology, 7%
  • Diagnosis, 4%
  • EEG, 2%

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