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The differences between x-ray technicians and staff technologists 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 staff technologist. Additionally, a staff technologist has an average salary of $57,587, 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 staff technologist are C++, diagnostic radiology, and patient care.
| X-Ray Technician | Staff Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,642 | $57,587 |
| Hourly rate | $24.83 | $27.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 60,780 | 123,142 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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 staff technologist conducts laboratory requests issued by doctors to determine, diagnose, and treat various diseases. The staff technologist is also under the radiologist technician's umbrella and assists the lead technician in managing the laboratory. Included in a staff technologist's tasks are preparing the specimen for analysis and ensuring that all laboratory equipment is well-calibrated and in working order. Added to the responsibilities are protecting patient information and all confidential data the laboratory received.
X-ray technicians and staff technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| X-Ray Technician | Staff Technologist | |
| Average salary | $51,642 | $57,587 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $81,000 | Between $33,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Stability Healthcare | VMware |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between an x-ray technician and a staff technologist in terms of educational background:
| X-Ray Technician | Staff Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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 staff technologists' demographics:
| X-Ray Technician | Staff Technologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.3% Female, 59.7% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| 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% |