Is X-ray technician a good career?

Yes, X-ray technician is a good career. In fact, it's ranked #15 in Healthcare Support jobs, according to the 2021 U.S. News annual ranking. It's a great career for someone who doesn't want to complete a lot of schooling but who wants to work in healthcare in a hospital or clinical setting.

What degree do you need to be an x-ray technician?

You need an associate's degree in radiologic technology to be an x-ray technician. These associate degree programs prepare you to work as an essential unit of a medical team by developing your patient care skills, technical knowledge and abilities, and analytical assets.

What is an x-ray technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Karen Bubb

An X-ray technician operates imaging equipment to capture images of patientâ€™s internal structures. They use X-rays, CT scans, and MRI machines to capture images and assist doctors in diagnosing and treating medical conditions. X-ray technicians prepare patients for imaging by explaining the procedure, positioning the patient, and protecting them from radiation. They also maintain the equipment, record patient information, and communicate with doctors about the results of the imaging.

What general advice would you give to an x-ray technician?

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.

ScoreX-Ray TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,642

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 9.28%

Black or African American 10.25%

Hispanic or Latino 17.74%

Unknown 4.98%

White 57.08%

Gender

female 59.73%

male 40.27%

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

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.4

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an x-ray technician?

Pros

High demand for X-ray technicians
Variety of work settings (hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers)
Hands-on and technical work
Continual learning and professional development opportunities
Ability to work as part of a healthcare team

Cons

Exposure to radiation
Potential for workplace injuries (back strain, needle sticks, etc.)
Dealing with difficult patients or coworkers
Heavy workload at times
Continuing education requirements and licensing renewal.

Key steps to become an x-ray technician

Explore x-ray technician education requirements

Most common x-ray technician degrees

Associate

62.3 %

Bachelor's

19.0 %

Certificate

5.8 %

Start to develop specific x-ray technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	21.78%
ARRT	9.06%
Radiologic Technologist	5.73%
CPR	5.49%
Customer Service	5.02%

Complete relevant x-ray technician training and internships

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

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming an licensed x-ray technician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed x-ray technician in most of states. 32 states require x-ray technicians 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

Gain additional x-ray technician certifications

X-ray technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific x-ray technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for x-ray technicians include Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) and Certified MRI Technologists.

More About Certifications

Research x-ray technician duties and responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operation of PACS equipment including image archiving.
Train personnel in triage, first aid, and CPR.
Put patients into rooms, pull charts, and learned EMR as the office transition to electronic records.
Input patient information in to the EMR, room patients, assist the doctor in all in office procedures.

Prepare your x-ray technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your x-ray technician 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 an x-ray technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable x-ray technician resume templates

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