The average salary of radiologic technologists in the U.S. rose by 1.7% in the past three years and now averages $62,763, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) 2013 wage and salary survey.
The survey, which tallied responses from 10,639 radiologic technologists, also noted that average salaries have increased by 20.5% over the past nine years, or approximately 2.3% per year.
ASRT attributed the most recent results to a slow economy, as the U.S. recovers from its recession.
The survey also found the following:
- Mammographers experienced the largest average salary gains at 8%, with the average annual salary advancing to $65,101 in 2013, compared with $60,263 in 2010.
- MR technologists followed with a 5% gain, with salaries moving from $65,098 in 2010 to $68,384 this year.
- CT technologists had a 4.9% increase, from $60,586 in 2010 to $63,454 in 2013.
- Cardiovascular-interventional technologists received a 4.3% increase, from $64,614 in 2010 to $67,379 in 2013.
Other wage increases include 3.1% for medical dosimetrists, 2.7% for sonographers, and 1.8% for nuclear medicine technologists. Salaries of quality management professionals have remained the same since 2010.
Two occupations, however, saw their compensation decrease over the past three years. Radiation therapists saw a 0.7% drop, from a $79,125 average annual salary in 2010 to $78,602 in 2013. Radiographers' salary declined an average of 0.5%, from $53,953 in 2010 to $53,680 in 2013.
On average, California RTs have the highest annual compensation at $84,162, followed by technologists in Hawaii at $80,761. Technologists in West Virginia earned the lowest base annual compensation at $51,607, with technologists in Alabama close behind at $51,648.
