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X-ray Technologists: Education and Career Opportunities

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X-ray Tech At a Glance

  • What you’ll do: Use X-ray equipment to create images of patients’ bones, soft tissue, or organs to diagnose health conditions such as fractures, tumors, lung infections, and arthritis.
  • Where you’ll work:  Hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, diagnostic labs
  • Degree you’ll need: Certificate or associate degree
  • Median annual salary: $61,370
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What Is an X-ray Tech?

X-ray technologists create medical images to help physicians and specialists diagnose and treat health conditions. There are two paths to this career: a certificate and an associate degree.

In this Article

The job of X-ray technologist is one role within the field of radiologic technology. Depending on state requirements, X-ray techs may need to hold an associate degree in radiologic technology to practice.

This two-year degree includes coursework that covers not only X-rays, but also MRIs, CT scans, sonography, and other imaging, and can set you up to expand your career.

Other states recognize certificate programs like limited medical radiologic technologist (LMRT). This type of certificate program provides training in one specific imaging procedure and limits a technologist to creating only that type of image.

Steps to Become an X-ray Tech

If you want to pursue a career in this field, consider using these steps as a guide.

Earn your high school diploma or GED.

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This is a necessary prerequisite for an X-ray technologist certificate or a radiologic technologist degree. You may find it useful to study human anatomy before starting a program.

Earn a certificate or associate degree.

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Your choice could depend on cost, career goals, and time. You can complete some X-ray certificate programs in a year, allowing you to jump into the job market sooner.

Consider earning a specialty certification.

x-ray technician talks to young patient before exam

You can’t earn a specialty certification unless you have an associate degree. Certifications can allow you to move beyond X-rays and work in other areas of imaging, such as mammography and bone density.

Maintain your certification.

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Certifications generally must be renewed every two years.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

X-ray technologists spend most of their time with patients, explaining the procedure, positioning them correctly, and operating computerized equipment to capture a clear image.

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Doctors use X-rays to diagnose health conditions such as fractures, tumors, lung infections, and arthritis. Techs sometimes work with doctors to evaluate the images.

X-rays can be images of a patient’s bones, soft tissue, or organs. Doctors use X-rays to diagnose health conditions such as fractures, tumors, lung infections, and arthritis. Techs sometimes work with doctors to evaluate the images.

Workplaces

X-ray technologists work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, and diagnostic labs. However, hospitals may prefer X-ray techs who have an associate degree over a certificate because they can do other types of imaging as well.

This means that LMRTs may find more jobs in smaller physicians’ practices or clinics that perform routine X-rays.

A Day in the Life of an X-ray Technologist


An X-ray tech’s typical day can vary depending on where they work. For Camry Robison, a radiologic technologist who works at a hospital in Utah, a typical day usually involves spending most of her time in the operating room taking portable X-rays after surgery.

She also works in the emergency room, taking X-rays of broken bones or areas where a patient might be in pain, like the abdomen.

“We work hand-in-hand with other modalities (imaging procedures) and will sometimes do two or more different types of images on one patient,” Robison says.

Who’s a Good Fit for this Career?

Certain skills and traits can help you succeed as an X-ray technician. They include:

Collaboration:
Working well with other medical professionals is crucial to ensure a smooth process for the patient. “We have to be able to work with different departments and help our fellow co-workers in their separate modalities, too, because we tend to share a lot of the same patients,” says Robison.
Flexibility:
Robison emphasizes that every patient is different and X-ray technologists need to be flexible. “It’s vital for us to be willing to adjust and change our habits, angles, and exams to best suit our patients to minimize pain for them but still maximize image content,” she explains.
Compassion:
Patients are often nervous or anxious during X-rays. “A lot of our patients are coming in to find out some pretty devastating news—whether they have cancer, if their cancer has spread, or if they have fractures that need to be surgically fixed,” says Robison. “There are some less-than-optimal diagnoses, and we need to be tender and sympathetic towards our patients as they come in.”

X-ray Technician Versus Radiologic Technologist


The titles X-ray technologist and radiologic technologist are often used interchangeably since people in these roles may have the same responsibilities and duties. However, X-ray technologists and radiologic technologists can have different education, and that can lead to different duties and opportunities.

With a limited-scope X-ray certificate, you can only do X-rays and you can’t earn certifications—even the basic credential for radiologic technologists. Some state regulations don’t allow X-ray techs without an associate degree to work in hospitals, which could limit job opportunities and pay.

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X-ray technologists and radiologic technologists can have different education, and that can lead to different duties and opportunities.

With an associate degree, you can branch out with certifications in other kinds of imaging, including:

Education Required to Become an X-ray Technologist

Which educational path you choose may well depend on your state’s requirements. Aside from the depth of education, the main difference between a certificate and an associate degree is the length of the programs.

Since a certificate may come with limited job opportunities and possibly less pay, it may be worth considering an associate degree to get the full benefit of working as an X-ray tech.

You’ll also want to check out your state’s educational, licensing, and certification requirements as you decide what educational path to follow.

Certificate Program


  • Curriculum: Includes human anatomy, patient care, X-ray imaging
  • Time to Complete: 12-16 months
  • Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
  • Online Programs: While some classes may be available online, you’ll need to complete hands-on clinical training in person.
  • What to Look for in a School: A program that helps prepare you for the necessary licensing or certification exam in your state, plus accreditation, which tells you that a program has been evaluated and judged to deliver a quality education. Without accreditation, you won’t be able to get financial aid and some employers may not want to hire you.
  • Who this Program Is Good For: People who want to start their X-ray tech careers as soon as possible.

Associate Degree


  • Curriculum: Includes human anatomy, patient care and procedures, advanced radiographic imaging
  • Time to Complete: 2 years full time
  • Prerequisites: Some schools require students to complete a class in human anatomy and an introduction to radiologic technology before granting admission to a program.
  • Online Programs: You may find schools that have coursework online, but clinical training will be in person.
  • What to Look for in a School: Look at a school’s graduation and employment rates. These can be good indicators of a program’s quality. Also look for accreditation, which tells you that a program has been evaluated and judged to deliver a quality education. Without accreditation, you won’t be able to get financial aid and some employers may not want to hire you.
  • Who this Program Is Good for: Students who want a full education in radiographic technology and the opportunity to do a variety of medical imaging.

Licensing and Certification

State licensing requirements can vary, but many require recipients of a limited-scope certificate to take a licensing exam before they’re allowed to work. You may also need to choose a scope of practice for your exam. For example, if you wanted to work in a chiropractor’s office, you’d need to pass an exam for spinal X-rays.

Certifications and Specialties

Specialty certifications from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) are available to radiologic technologists with an associate degree.

Certifications are a way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in a specific medical imaging procedure. Some employers encourage techs to earn several specialty certifications.

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Specialty certifications are available to radiologic technologists with an associate degree.

The ARRT offers a basic certification, the Registered Radiologic technologist R.T. (R). It also offers specialty credentials in other branches of radiologic technology. Introductory certifications include:

Salary and Job Outlook

The median salary for radiologic technologists, including X-ray technicians, is $61,370, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The top 10% of earners make as much as $94,880 and the bottom 10% earn $46,850.

Here’s a look at how salaries range by state.

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

National data

Median Salary: $61,370

Projected job growth: 6.3%

10th Percentile: $46,850

25th Percentile: $48,900

75th Percentile: $77,290

90th Percentile: $94,880

Projected job growth: 6.3%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $47,810 $31,900 $62,620
Alaska $77,240 $59,810 $99,550
Arizona $61,940 $46,620 $94,420
Arkansas $48,680 $37,040 $74,420
California $95,960 $48,840 $128,770
Colorado $62,220 $47,580 $94,880
Connecticut $76,380 $57,420 $99,110
Delaware $60,440 $47,820 $78,610
District of Columbia $77,240 $60,590 $101,220
Florida $60,310 $39,900 $77,210
Georgia $59,570 $40,580 $76,920
Hawaii $78,430 $61,260 $101,220
Idaho $60,570 $47,040 $78,850
Illinois $62,010 $47,020 $79,670
Indiana $60,380 $46,990 $78,160
Iowa $57,040 $46,260 $70,600
Kansas $59,320 $40,390 $76,920
Kentucky $59,260 $37,890 $76,760
Louisiana $48,450 $42,210 $74,970
Maine $60,850 $47,380 $77,600
Maryland $75,260 $56,360 $94,880
Massachusetts $77,360 $58,400 $101,550
Michigan $60,570 $47,020 $77,960
Minnesota $71,760 $58,820 $79,870
Mississippi $47,230 $36,940 $61,600
Missouri $59,320 $40,980 $76,600
Montana $60,360 $46,980 $77,450
Nebraska $60,110 $46,980 $77,210
Nevada $61,940 $47,040 $94,420
New Hampshire $63,840 $47,320 $94,870
New Jersey $76,600 $59,540 $94,870
New Mexico $60,920 $46,980 $78,560
New York $76,920 $59,280 $99,220
North Carolina $60,110 $45,410 $77,890
North Dakota $60,740 $47,210 $76,820
Ohio $60,110 $46,890 $77,600
Oklahoma $60,040 $44,350 $77,210
Oregon $78,000 $59,500 $100,660
Pennsylvania $59,640 $47,020 $77,020
Rhode Island $76,970 $59,540 $99,680
South Carolina $59,280 $38,420 $76,590
South Dakota $59,280 $37,620 $74,660
Tennessee $50,320 $37,500 $76,600
Texas $60,950 $37,790 $81,200
Utah $60,570 $39,840 $78,960
Vermont $61,600 $47,140 $79,340
Virginia $61,940 $47,020 $83,360
Washington $77,240 $59,280 $99,770
West Virginia $49,290 $37,890 $75,490
Wisconsin $61,370 $47,040 $78,940
Wyoming $61,290 $47,300 $79,340

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.

Other Factors that Can Affect Salary

Other factors that can affect an X-ray technologist’s salary are experience and where they work.

According to the BLS, salaries for some top workplaces are:

WorkplaceMedian Salary
Outpatient care centers$77,580
Medical and diagnostic labs$66,370
Hospitals$67,410
Physicians’ offices$59,310

Job Outlook

Jobs for radiologic technologists are expected to grow by 6.3% through 2031, according to the BLS. That’s in line with the nation’s job growth overall.

One reason for the greater demand for X-ray technicians and other technologists is aging baby boomers. These Americans are not only getting older, but they’re also living longer and requiring more medical care for diseases and chronic conditions.

Comparison with Similar Occupations

If you’re still deciding on a healthcare career, here’s a look at similar professions that require an associate degree.

Career Median Annual Salary
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $61,370
Radiation Therapists $82,790
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers $77,740
Nuclear Medicine Technologists $78,760
sara nguyen

Written and reported by:
Sara J. Nguyen
Contributing Writer

camry robison

With professional insight from:
Camry Robison
Radiologic Technologist