Nuclear medicine technologists administer radioactive materials to patients, operate scanners and earn a salary similar to that of a registered nurse. Salaries vary based on education, experience, specialization, facility type and geographic location. Urban areas and certain US states pay higher salaries.
A nuclear medicine technologist is a healthcare professional who has completed specialized training and education in nuclear imaging. He or she is responsible for calculating appropriate dosages, administering radioactive materials to patients via prescribed routes – orally, intravenously or by inhalation – positioning patients in the required postures and operating the scanner, technically known as a gamma scintillation camera. This profession requires careful attention to detail, meticulous documentation, and handling potentially hazardous materials. As a general rule, the salary of a nuclear medicine technologist is approximately what a registered nurse (RN) would earn in the same geographic area. The salary of a nuclear medicine technician also depends on education, experience, specializations, geographic location and other factors.
One factor that influences the salary of a nuclear medicine technologist is their educational background for the position. Educational preparation varies widely due to the relative newness of the profession – the skills that early technologists learned on the job gradually required greater amounts of education. Thus, practicing nuclear medicine technologists may have received a certificate from a hospital program, an associate degree from a community college, or a bachelor’s degree from a college or university. The one-year certification is basically reserved for healthcare professionals who already hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in another healthcare-related field.
Experience is another factor that helps determine the salary of a nuclear medicine technologist, as with most professions. The length of their career in this field, however, is slowly being offset by the growing number of nuclear medicine technologists with a bachelor’s degree in the field. Some US states license nuclear medicine technologists, and this credential appears to have a positive effect on salaries. The salary of a nuclear medicine technologist also increases with career specialization. Training or special education in nascent nuclear cardiology or positron emission tomography (PET) increases wages and job opportunities.
The type of facility in which a nuclear medicine technician practices also influences salaries. Although hospitals employ the largest number of nuclear medicine technologists by far, their salaries are in the middle of the salary scale for this profession. Universities pay the highest salaries, followed by doctors’ offices. Outpatient care centers and medical and diagnostic laboratories pay the lowest salaries on the scale.
The salary of a nuclear medicine technologist is also influenced by the geographic area in which he or she works. Jobs in urban areas pay more than those in rural areas. In the US, the state of California pays far more than the national median wage. Another more western state, Washington state, pays in the top five. The remaining top states for nuclear medicine salaries are located in the northeastern US.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
