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What Is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?

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Home » Specialties » 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: $85,300
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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 $85,300. They also report salaries by state. Take a look at how your state ranks.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

National data

Median Salary: $85,300

Projected job growth: 0.4%

10th Percentile: $64,680

25th Percentile: $76,910

75th Percentile: $100,740

90th Percentile: $114,100

Projected job growth: 0.4%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $70,050 $52,230 $81,010
Arizona $84,960 $77,740 $103,920
Arkansas $71,410 $53,050 $94,910
California $130,200 $94,110 $170,660
Colorado $97,410 $77,630 $111,740
Connecticut $101,220 $81,410 $129,900
Delaware $81,790 $68,440 $98,630
District of Columbia $103,800 $78,400 $112,530
Florida $81,800 $65,820 $97,110
Georgia $79,160 $63,850 $100,700
Hawaii $111,840 $91,920 $121,990
Idaho $98,380 $77,470 $127,530
Illinois $96,760 $77,290 $106,100
Indiana $82,600 $66,330 $97,660
Iowa $77,830 $61,520 $94,470
Kansas $76,230 $54,070 $99,480
Kentucky $81,270 $67,280 $93,800
Louisiana $79,480 $60,320 $96,100
Maine $81,290 $67,660 $95,130
Maryland $82,960 $65,200 $105,250
Massachusetts $99,760 $67,190 $116,740
Michigan $81,280 $64,740 $92,770
Minnesota $98,160 $81,430 $109,390
Mississippi $74,830 $60,860 $89,460
Missouri $81,230 $62,390 $101,000
Montana $84,570 $67,450 $104,580
Nebraska $86,130 $67,480 $102,250
Nevada $95,110 $80,180 $133,530
New Hampshire $92,540 $79,830 $108,410
New Jersey $99,750 $83,860 $116,160
New Mexico $81,950 $69,590 $96,970
New York $99,980 $77,450 $119,980
North Carolina $75,920 $58,950 $92,900
North Dakota $85,550 $65,370 $102,820
Ohio $79,930 $65,930 $99,550
Oklahoma $80,620 $62,230 $98,890
Oregon $99,700 $86,990 $124,310
Pennsylvania $77,090 $59,710 $98,300
Rhode Island $100,630 $83,680 $130,150
South Carolina $79,310 $61,150 $95,980
South Dakota $64,980 $37,230 $79,760
Tennessee $77,720 $61,320 $94,310
Texas $96,400 $67,400 $112,560
Utah $87,450 $76,320 $106,190
Vermont $97,280 $77,750 $117,510
Virginia $82,630 $65,500 $101,690
Washington $108,180 $87,760 $132,030
West Virginia $72,070 $59,950 $91,100
Wisconsin $89,840 $70,810 $109,340

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 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: