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What Is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?

By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: December 22, 2025

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: $97,020

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 $97,020. They also report salaries by state. Take a look at how your state ranks.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

National data

Median Salary: $97,020

Projected job growth: 3%

10th Percentile: $75,570

25th Percentile: $83,020

75th Percentile: $108,190

90th Percentile: $128,090

Projected job growth: 3%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$79,230	$63,020	$96,350
Arizona	$98,720	$81,360	$107,320
Arkansas	$75,150	$51,210	$93,460
California	$155,220	$118,370	$185,250
Colorado	$108,900	$86,310	$127,360
Connecticut	$107,050	$93,780	$122,860
Delaware	$96,040	$78,090	$114,470
District of Columbia	$114,750	$86,010	$124,440
Florida	$88,450	$75,730	$107,120
Georgia	$89,450	$67,850	$109,940
Hawaii	$124,380	$81,790	$125,730
Idaho	$99,000	$79,890	$121,490
Illinois	$101,840	$83,290	$120,180
Indiana	$96,780	$78,270	$105,950
Iowa	$83,590	$77,730	$102,380
Kansas	$84,210	$62,290	$105,960
Kentucky	$87,990	$73,940	$99,910
Louisiana	$82,540	$65,550	$101,810
Maine	$95,230	$79,240	$109,400
Maryland	$96,560	$76,710	$108,570
Massachusetts	$110,340	$83,790	$130,100
Michigan	$89,300	$76,710	$100,870
Minnesota	$103,850	$91,640	$114,340
Mississippi	$81,020	$62,540	$94,500
Missouri	$97,400	$74,590	$110,960
Montana	$97,000	$79,150	$115,650
Nebraska	$104,270	$81,140	$121,880
Nevada	$107,670	$84,980	$124,840
New Hampshire	$99,900	$88,430	$112,750
New Jersey	$111,000	$97,720	$129,600
New Mexico	$84,860	$75,620	$105,430
New York	$109,020	$86,390	$129,800
North Carolina	$83,820	$65,520	$99,700
North Dakota	$98,730	$73,350	$110,790
Ohio	$94,450	$78,520	$105,340
Oklahoma	$89,150	$66,940	$100,750
Oregon	$110,600	$98,160	$132,280
Pennsylvania	$86,320	$68,190	$104,400
Rhode Island	$107,950	$84,710	$143,790
South Carolina	$84,420	$70,910	$96,310
South Dakota	$79,060	$53,330	$94,210
Tennessee	$80,470	$64,400	$101,950
Texas	$96,060	$77,690	$114,400
Utah	$106,720	$87,120	$124,650
Virginia	$96,820	$78,570	$112,410
Washington	$121,090	$98,900	$152,850
West Virginia	$82,470	$65,600	$100,000
Wisconsin	$87,470	$75,280	$114,190

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. 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: