Radiology Jobs and Career Outlook

Radiology jobs, such as radiologic technologists, are quickly becoming attractive to job seekers because training can be completed in just a few years of study—for less than the cost of a university degree.

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.

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

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. Candidates who specialize in more than one type of technology are especially valuable to employers.

Most radiology jobs are found in the following settings:

• Traditional hospitals
• Dental clinics
• Physicians' offices
• Medical laboratories
• Veterinary clinics.

Salaries for radiology jobs vary depending on location, work environment, the level of education and specialty of each individual radiologic technologist. According to the 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the middle 50 percent of radiologic technologists earn between $42,710 and $63,010.