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What Is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?

Nuclear Med Tech at a Glance

What you’ll do: As a nuclear medicine technologist (NMT), you’ll perform diagnostic tests on patients using imaging equipment such as gamma cameras.

Where you’ll work: Hospitals, physician’s offices and clinics, private practice or for a firm. Some nuclear medicine technologists may work for state or federal government agencies.

Degree you’ll need: Associate degree, but preferably a bachelor’s degree

Median annual salary: $92,500

Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Description

Working directly with patients and under the supervision of a physician, you’ll fulfill the following standard duties of a nuclear medicine technologist:

Explaining procedures to patients
Administering radioactive substances to patients
Producing the images on a computer screen or on film for a physician to interpret
Taking precautions to limit radiation exposure to the patient and yourself

You might also document laboratory operations and participate in scheduling patient examinations.

Median Annual Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports nuclear medicine technologists earn a median annual wage of $92,500. They also report salaries by state. Take a look at how your state ranks.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

National data

Median Salary: $92,500

Projected job growth: 0.4%

10th Percentile: $69,300

25th Percentile: $80,050

75th Percentile: $104,540

90th Percentile: $123,910

Projected job growth: 0.4%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$75,180	$55,740	$85,220
Arizona	$95,450	$83,740	$110,130
Arkansas	$73,260	$49,260	$90,210
California	$139,970	$106,780	$184,090
Colorado	$106,370	$82,500	$118,750
Connecticut	$104,650	$91,340	$123,570
Delaware	$89,430	$75,030	$106,590
District of Columbia	$82,800	$82,790	$130,690
Florida	$85,540	$72,340	$101,470
Georgia	$85,130	$65,400	$106,210
Hawaii	$119,560	$98,090	$129,280
Idaho	$101,870	$85,500	$126,910
Illinois	$98,590	$79,070	$115,940
Indiana	$88,070	$73,620	$102,540
Iowa	$80,410	$71,850	$100,400
Kansas	$85,450	$64,390	$105,760
Kentucky	$85,370	$72,170	$96,860
Louisiana	$81,900	$63,020	$98,490
Maine	$85,640	$71,700	$99,300
Maryland	$91,440	$71,510	$107,230
Massachusetts	$103,480	$80,040	$119,550
Michigan	$84,560	$68,240	$98,140
Minnesota	$104,020	$84,220	$111,140
Mississippi	$77,670	$60,990	$93,990
Missouri	$86,300	$65,990	$106,550
Montana	$93,130	$79,200	$111,180
Nebraska	$98,750	$73,020	$117,580
Nevada	$98,560	$81,720	$137,570
New Hampshire	$98,350	$84,840	$114,890
New Jersey	$104,020	$90,710	$122,950
New Mexico	$81,580	$65,670	$101,360
New York	$104,850	$83,100	$127,510
North Carolina	$80,580	$64,210	$98,220
North Dakota	$90,670	$69,720	$108,040
Ohio	$87,710	$75,370	$101,110
Oklahoma	$84,870	$64,770	$99,220
Oregon	$106,320	$95,420	$128,630
Pennsylvania	$86,530	$63,490	$106,620
Rhode Island	$103,770	$83,950	$138,320
South Carolina	$81,320	$65,480	$94,710
South Dakota	$69,340	$39,720	$84,770
Tennessee	$78,420	$64,520	$99,430
Texas	$87,400	$61,360	$118,240
Utah	$93,700	$77,990	$109,030
Virginia	$90,540	$73,460	$106,350
Washington	$119,800	$93,650	$151,890
West Virginia	$77,860	$61,970	$96,850
Wisconsin	$82,090	$65,410	$109,550

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Education & Licensure

First and foremost, you’ll need to make sure you complete an accredited NMT program. Certificate programs are offered for experienced technologists who wish to specialize in nuclear medicine. In the training programs, students receive a combination of classroom and clinical instruction.

Coursework May Include the Following:

Nuclear physics
Radiopharmacology
Statistics
Radiation biology
Health physics
Clinical nuclear medicine
Anatomy
Radionuclide therapy
Biochemistry
Immunology

Regulations about certification and licensing vary from state to state. However, getting your certification is a good idea because most employers require it. Upon completion of an accredited program, you can receive your NMT certification from these agencies: