Radiology Jobs are Growing Radiology jobs, such as radiologic technologist positions, are quickly becoming attractive to job seekers because radiologic technologist training can be completed in just a few years of study―for less than the cost of a university degree. If you're thinking about a career as a radiologic technologist, this is a great time to get your education, since the number of radiology jobs is expected to increase in the next few years. Radiology is a medical specialty that involves a team of physicians and medical technologists who work together to conduct tests, produce digital images of the body and interpret test results to help doctors diagnose their patients. Radiology jobs typically include radiologist (a medical doctor), radiologic technologist, radiology assistant and radiology nurse. See Radiology Careers for details of each of these radiology jobs.  Radiology Job Duties Radiologic technologists work on the front lines of medicine, conducting tests and operating the machines that produce a variety of digital images of the body. Radiologists and other doctors use these digital images to help identify a patient's particular illness. While the field of radiology includes several specialties of medical imaging, most radiologic technologists specialize in one of the following fields: - Computer Tomography (CT) – an advanced form of x-ray technology that creates images of soft tissue and organs
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio frequencies to create digital images of internal organs and tissue
- Mammography – a digital imaging of breast tissue, frequently used to detect cancer
Read more about Radiology Specialties... Employment Opportunities in Radiology As the U.S. population continues to grow and age, the demand for health care and medical testing services is increasing. Doctors and hospitals are beginning to rely more and more on digital imaging―which is often more accurate than traditional forms of analog testing such as x-rays―and subsequently, they're relying on the radiologists and radiologic technologists, who operate these imaging machines, to help diagnose and treat patients effectively. The health care industry is one of the few employment sectors that continues to expand, regardless of how the U.S. economy does overall. The field of radiology is no exception. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts a 15 percent increase in the number of radiology jobs between 2006 and 2016. Most radiology jobs can be found in traditional hospitals. However, radiologic technologists can also find work in dental clinics, physicians' offices, medical laboratories and veterinary clinics. Candidates who specialize in more than one type of technology are especially valuable to employers. Radiology Jobs Salaries Salaries for radiology jobs vary depending on location, work environment, the level of education and specialty of each individual radiologic technologist. According to human resources data collected by Salary.com for May 2009, the middle 50 percent of radiologic technologists earn between $42,878 and $51,332. Meanwhile, the top 10 percent earned $55,302 or more. |
