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Home » Specialties » Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Nuclear Medicine Technologist: Fast Facts

  • 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: $78,760
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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 Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports nuclear medicine technologist earn a median annual wage of $78,760. They also report salaries by state. Take a look at how your state ranks.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

National data

Median Salary: $78,760

Projected job growth: 1.7%

10th Percentile: $60,550

25th Percentile: $74,820

75th Percentile: $98,410

90th Percentile: $105,530

Projected job growth: 1.7%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $61,650 $47,470 $79,250
Arizona $81,550 $64,110 $100,200
Arkansas $74,820 $59,450 $94,690
California $126,800 $92,270 $164,370
Colorado $95,220 $75,440 $100,870
Connecticut $98,680 $75,880 $128,850
Delaware $94,390 $72,990 $101,740
District of Columbia $101,650 $77,740 $120,060
Florida $77,630 $60,110 $98,030
Georgia $75,530 $59,300 $98,940
Hawaii $101,650 $77,450 $126,800
Idaho $79,360 $74,840 $100,410
Illinois $79,660 $65,440 $100,380
Indiana $77,030 $59,640 $98,030
Iowa $77,030 $60,110 $95,360
Kansas $61,790 $52,970 $96,600
Kentucky $77,500 $60,500 $96,300
Louisiana $75,830 $59,640 $94,800
Maine $77,630 $61,030 $96,960
Maryland $79,100 $61,340 $100,870
Massachusetts $94,800 $63,000 $105,390
Michigan $77,450 $59,900 $94,800
Minnesota $92,180 $75,040 $100,870
Mississippi $74,220 $57,980 $79,360
Missouri $77,450 $59,640 $98,030
Montana $79,360 $62,390 $98,780
Nebraska $75,040 $59,640 $99,700
Nevada $80,850 $77,030 $102,890
New Hampshire $81,210 $75,000 $100,210
New Jersey $97,540 $78,070 $118,880
New Mexico $78,810 $60,550 $99,260
New York $98,680 $76,410 $121,960
North Carolina $74,820 $59,450 $95,110
North Dakota $77,640 $61,930 $97,410
Ohio $77,290 $60,820 $90,040
Oklahoma $77,020 $59,470 $98,030
Oregon $98,120 $77,450 $124,970
Pennsylvania $75,040 $55,930 $96,190
Rhode Island $100,200 $78,670 $125,260
South Carolina $75,240 $60,990 $95,030
South Dakota $60,550 $37,550 $94,800
Tennessee $75,220 $60,320 $80,920
Texas $84,020 $62,400 $100,990
Utah $78,670 $60,820 $100,200
Virginia $77,040 $61,410 $99,760
Washington $99,760 $78,300 $127,320
West Virginia $61,480 $48,720 $76,910
Wisconsin $81,660 $62,700 $101,650

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2031. 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: