Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Also called: CT Tech (Computed Tomography Technologist), Multimodality Technologist, RT (Radiologic Technologist), X-Ray Tech (X-Ray Technologist)Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 14 of its 30 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 5.0% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.1% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.0 hires for every 10 job openings in health care and social assistance, which employs about 92% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,700 | $49,610 to $71,620 | 3,500 |
| Alaska | $98,920 | $81,660 to $106,170 | 370 |
| Arizona | $89,200 | $74,960 to $106,920 | 4,670 |
| Arkansas | $63,640 | $57,190 to $78,480 | 2,210 |
| California | $121,260 | $95,730 to $137,770 | 20,900 |
| Colorado | $87,760 | $76,060 to $103,780 | 3,960 |
| Connecticut | $91,970 | $79,860 to $103,720 | 3,230 |
| Delaware | $84,210 | $68,370 to $96,190 | 650 |
| District of Columbia | $102,770 | $82,160 to $111,390 | 660 |
| Florida | $76,750 | $62,080 to $82,650 | 16,470 |
| Georgia | $74,550 | $60,800 to $85,300 | 7,540 |
| Guam | not published | not published | 50 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 | $85,480 to $107,080 | 690 |
| Idaho | $80,080 | $64,460 to $97,610 | 1,490 |
| Illinois | $79,930 | $66,000 to $97,950 | 7,650 |
| Indiana | $77,640 | $62,840 to $84,060 | 5,470 |
| Iowa | $65,930 | $61,730 to $79,390 | 2,550 |
| Kansas | $76,070 | $62,180 to $82,570 | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $69,670 | $61,820 to $81,370 | 3,630 |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | $58,400 to $76,240 | 3,370 |
| Maine | $80,080 | $68,110 to $92,410 | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $85,890 | $79,050 to $99,880 | 3,370 |
| Massachusetts | $103,620 | $83,200 to $122,900 | 5,500 |
| Michigan | $76,420 | $63,270 to $81,700 | 7,220 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | $78,590 to $98,900 | 4,910 |
| Mississippi | $59,300 | $49,340 to $66,160 | 2,510 |
| Missouri | $73,080 | $63,090 to $80,770 | 5,170 |
| Montana | $77,070 | $65,850 to $82,140 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $72,860 | $63,480 to $82,650 | 1,670 |
| Nevada | $82,910 | $76,100 to $103,830 | 1,840 |
| New Hampshire | $84,910 | $75,430 to $100,720 | 1,240 |
| New Jersey | $95,000 | $80,600 to $103,510 | 6,320 |
| New Mexico | $79,940 | $65,660 to $93,250 | 1,150 |
| New York | $98,470 | $82,670 to $110,950 | 13,450 |
| North Carolina | $74,450 | $62,870 to $83,340 | 9,250 |
| North Dakota | $67,790 | $62,470 to $80,970 | 740 |
| Ohio | $78,320 | $64,950 to $82,430 | 9,570 |
| Oklahoma | $74,160 | $61,850 to $83,070 | 3,640 |
| Oregon | $102,290 | $85,280 to $111,810 | 2,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,050 | $63,510 to $82,080 | 8,090 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,280 | $29,970 to $47,740 | 1,300 |
| Rhode Island | $85,330 | $78,950 to $103,380 | 660 |
| South Carolina | $69,600 | $61,900 to $82,560 | 3,630 |
| South Dakota | $65,240 | $61,490 to $79,770 | 980 |
| Tennessee | $64,630 | $59,610 to $78,700 | 4,660 |
| Texas | $78,630 | $63,210 to $93,830 | 20,250 |
| Utah | $81,000 | $65,660 to $98,760 | 1,780 |
| Vermont | $94,540 | $78,020 to $102,080 | 470 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,680 | $33,280 to $79,030 | 40 |
| Virginia | $80,670 | $71,430 to $95,870 | 5,140 |
| Washington | $102,090 | $81,880 to $121,560 | 4,130 |
| West Virginia | $74,150 | $61,020 to $81,370 | 1,810 |
| Wisconsin | $79,140 | $67,490 to $88,210 | 5,010 |
| Wyoming | $77,860 | $63,700 to $95,670 | 430 |
Nationally: $80,110. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 14 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan. | Not published |
| AI alone | Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist. | Not published |
| Not much | Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor. | Not published |
| Not much | Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes. | Not published |
See all 30 tasks
| AI + software | Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff. | Not published |
| Not much | Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods. | Not published |
| AI + software | Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes. | Not published |
| Not much | Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready. | Not published |
| Not much | Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination. | Not published |
| AI + software | Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician. | Not published |
| AI + software | Operate digital picture archiving communications systems. | Not published |
| AI + software | Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures. | Not published |
| Not much | Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain a current file of examination protocols. | Not published |
| AI + software | Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists and technicians. | Not published |
| Not much | Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance. | Not published |
| AI + software | Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities. | Not published |
| Not much | Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide students or other technicians and technologists with suggestions of additional views, alternate positioning, or improved techniques to ensure the images produced are of the highest quality. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician. | Not published |
| AI alone | Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films. | Not published |
| Not much | Transport patients to or from exam rooms. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside. | Not published |
| AI + software | Perform supervisory duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 23 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #30 Perform administrative or clerical activities
- #35 Process digital or online data
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operate medical equipment | |||
| Maintain health or medical records | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Monitor health conditions of humans or animals | |||
| Train others on health or medical topics | |||
| Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care | |||
| Prepare medical equipment or work areas for use |
Show all 23 activities
| Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures | |||
| Perform administrative or clerical activities | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Prepare mixtures or solutions | |||
| Explain medical information to patients or family members | |||
| Analyze health or medical data | |||
| Schedule appointments | |||
| Collect information about patients or clients | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Prepare health or medical documents | |||
| Assist individuals with special needs | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| Transport patients or clients |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report74%
- Data or a spreadsheet10%
- An explanation or answer6%
- An analysis or summary2%
- A chart or visualization2%
How they worked with Claude
67% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for radiologic technologists and technicians specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 23,182 moves out
- 1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Moderate +7.7% 8%
- 2 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 6%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 4 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 5 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 21,149 moves in
- 1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Moderate +7.7% 7%
- 2 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 4 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 4%
- 5 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 15% some college
- 51% associate's
- 24% bachelor's
- 4% master's
- 1% professional degree
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 2,573 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
3 programs: Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist, Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer and Mammography Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
>90% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Radiologic Technologists and Technicians” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/29-2034.00