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The differences between x-ray technicians and mammography technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an x-ray technician and a mammography technician. Additionally, a mammography technician has an average salary of $64,362, which is higher than the $51,642 average annual salary of an x-ray technician.
The top three skills for an x-ray technician include patients, ARRT and radiologic technologist. The most important skills for a mammography technician are patients, ARRT, and patient care.
| X-Ray Technician | Mammography Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,642 | $64,362 |
| Hourly rate | $24.83 | $30.94 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 60,780 | 52,998 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of X-ray technicians, or X-ray technologists, is to detect medical issues that may need urgent medical treatment using cutting-edge imaging methods. The pictures they generate aid physicians in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses with better accuracy. They use a wide range of imaging technologies such as the traditional X-ray machines, computerized axial tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. X-ray technicians may also perform some office work that includes preparing work schedules, managing radiologic departments, and setting up physicians' stations.
A mammography technician is primarily in charge of operating an imaging machine to detect and diagnose breast diseases. Their responsibilities include greeting patients, reviewing their identification and request documentation, explaining the extent of procedures, answering inquiries, operating machines, performing adjustments, and conducting the study in adherence to the protocols, making sure the patients feel comfortable every step of the way. Furthermore, as a mammography technician, it is essential to practice every safety technique during the procedures, all while enforcing the facility's policies and regulations.
X-ray technicians and mammography technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| X-Ray Technician | Mammography Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,642 | $64,362 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $81,000 | Between $35,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Stability Healthcare | Stability Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an x-ray technician and a mammography technician in terms of educational background:
| X-Ray Technician | Mammography Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Texas A&M University | Texas A&M University |
Here are the differences between x-ray technicians' and mammography technicians' demographics:
| X-Ray Technician | Mammography Technician | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.3% Female, 59.7% | Male, 3.6% Female, 96.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 Percentage | 10% | 8% |