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What Is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?

By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: June 10, 2026

Key Takeaways

A nuclear medicine technologist works directly with patients under physician supervision and fulfills standard duties such as documenting lab operations.
Completion of an accredited NMT program is essential for aspiring nuclear medicine technologists; certificate programs are available for specialization.
Coursework typically covers clinical instruction and classroom learning, tailored to the state-specific regulations for certification and licensing.

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: $101,370

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 $101,370. They also report salaries by state. Take a look at how your state ranks.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

National data

Median Salary: $101,370

Projected job growth: 4.4%

10th Percentile: $78,080

25th Percentile: $86,720

75th Percentile: $117,120

90th Percentile: $134,500

Projected job growth: 4.4%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$82,630	$64,150	$100,310
Arizona	$100,130	$81,030	$123,130
Arkansas	$83,670	$58,130	$103,220
California	$162,380	$122,760	$200,990
Colorado	$116,990	$94,950	$132,580
Connecticut	$117,150	$98,800	$129,720
Delaware	$100,470	$83,190	$122,490
District of Columbia	$116,630	$96,160	$150,860
Florida	$97,310	$80,070	$110,640
Georgia	$100,880	$75,490	$125,760
Hawaii	$125,650	$108,140	$130,220
Idaho	$104,630	$83,550	$123,990
Illinois	$104,950	$84,590	$122,800
Indiana	$103,230	$85,140	$119,310
Iowa	$92,890	$80,090	$105,970
Kansas	$64,610	$55,310	$104,100
Kentucky	$95,470	$75,360	$117,540
Louisiana	$87,670	$69,040	$105,050
Maine	$99,500	$80,820	$113,730
Maryland	$104,150	$87,120	$122,930
Massachusetts	$118,250	$88,470	$148,900
Michigan	$95,400	$75,000	$101,680
Minnesota	$107,380	$96,440	$119,650
Mississippi	$83,340	$64,880	$101,800
Missouri	$98,010	$76,660	$118,120
Montana	$100,490	$62,340	$107,830
Nebraska	$104,320	$58,130	$124,410
Nevada	$109,150	$97,640	$136,520
New Hampshire	$107,890	$103,570	$123,450
New Jersey	$124,280	$101,830	$140,340
New Mexico	$98,400	$74,820	$125,230
New York	$118,650	$96,870	$134,400
North Carolina	$85,240	$67,080	$103,980
North Dakota	$102,640	$76,250	$115,390
Ohio	$97,570	$80,620	$105,990
Oklahoma	$90,640	$72,110	$103,490
Oregon	$122,100	$101,080	$132,510
Pennsylvania	$94,570	$75,270	$118,110
Rhode Island	$104,000	$99,230	$133,890
South Carolina	$90,230	$76,820	$102,760
South Dakota	$82,010	$39,090	$101,940
Tennessee	$84,470	$68,640	$108,020
Texas	$101,170	$81,330	$124,530
Utah	$111,770	$91,570	$129,590
Virginia	$101,820	$84,600	$120,070
Washington	$126,200	$102,970	$158,740
West Virginia	$76,460	$65,570	$101,300
Wisconsin	$98,450	$77,380	$118,560
Wyoming	$81,900	$78,580	$119,660

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2035. 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: