Nuclear medicine technologists, also called “nuke med techs,” use scanners to create images of various areas of a patient’s body. They may work in specialized areas such as cardiac stress labs, where they prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans or cardiac testing. These radioactive drugs enable healthcare professionals to examine the body with much greater detail.
In this article (and corresponding video), you’ll learn about the nuclear medicine technologist job overview, education requirements, and salary statistics, including detailed salary information by state.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Overview
What exactly does a nuke med tech do on the job? The list below provides a sample of some of the duties performed by nuclear medicine technologists:
- Explain imaging procedures to the patient and answer any questions that may arise during or before a procedure
- Follow safety procedures to protect themselves and the patient from unnecessary radiation exposure. This may involve wearing protective clothing or even special equipment that can detect radiation levels.
- Examine machines to ensure that they are working properly
- Prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to the patient via mouth, injection, inhalation, and other means.
- Monitor the patient to check for unusual reactions to the drugs
- Operate equipment that creates images of areas in the body, such as images of organs
- Keep detailed records of procedures
Radioactive drugs, known as radiopharmaceuticals, give off radiation, allowing special scanners to monitor tissue and organ functions. This is one of the potential dangers of working as a nuclear medicine technologist, especially when accidents result in radiation exposure.
When a radioactive drug is administered, abnormal areas show higher-than-expected or lower-than-expected concentrations of radioactivity. Physicians and surgeons then interpret the images to help diagnose the patient’s condition. For example, tumors can be seen in organs during a scan because of their concentration of the radioactive drugs. They are also used to examine the heart to check for blockages.
Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nuclear medicine technologists held about 20,900 jobs in 2012. Employment of nuclear medicine technologists is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the growth will result in only about 4,200 new jobs over the 10-year period. Also, this field can be quite competitive in some areas.
Nuclear Medicine Tech Education Requirements
Nuclear medicine technologists typically need an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in nuclear medicine technology. It is also possible to become qualified by completing an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree program in a related health field, such as radiologic technology or nursing, and then completing a 12-month certificate program in nuclear medicine technology. In addition to the classroom training, clinical hours must be completed.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Nuclear medicine technologists must be licensed in some states; requirements vary by state. For specifics, contact your state’s health board. Some nuclear medicine technologists become certified. Although certification is not required for a license, it fulfills most of the requirements for state licensure on its own.
Some employers require certification, regardless of state regulations. Certification usually involves completing required coursework and having the necessary hours of clinical experience, as well as graduating from an accredited nuclear medicine technology program. Certification is available from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB).
In addition to receiving general certification, technologists can earn specialty certifications that show their proficiency in specific procedures or on certain equipment. A technologist can earn certification in positron emission tomography (PET) or nuclear cardiology (NCT).
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary Overview
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of 2014), nuclear medicine technologists earn an average annual salary of $73,230, and an average hourly wage of $35.21. Detailed statistics are listed below.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RSE |
| 20,320 | 1.8 % | $35.21 | $73,230 | 0.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $25.04 | $29.68 | $34.66 | $41.06 | $46.43 |
| Annual Wage | $52,080 | $61,730 | $72,100 | $85,410 | $96,570 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 13,850 | 0.26 | $35.09 | $72,980 |
| Offices of Physicians | 4,160 | 0.17 | $36.05 | $74,980 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 1,260 | 0.51 | $33.05 | $68,740 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 310 | 0.04 | $37.72 | $78,450 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 220 | 0.09 | $36.88 | $76,700 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 90 | n/a | $40.72 | $84,700 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 310 | 0.04 | $37.72 | $78,450 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 220 | 0.09 | $36.88 | $76,700 |
| Offices of Physicians | 4,160 | 0.17 | $36.05 | $74,980 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 70 | 0.01 | $35.56 | $73,950 |
Top paying states for this occupation:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | 1,560 | 0.10 | 0.69 | $47.27 | $98,320 |
| Hawaii | 80 | 0.14 | 0.90 | $41.15 | $85,590 |
| New Jersey | 590 | 0.15 | 1.02 | $40.85 | $84,970 |
| Connecticut | 330 | 0.20 | 1.31 | $40.65 | $84,540 |
| Washington | 460 | 0.16 | 1.06 | $40.44 | $84,120 |
Lowest Paying States:
Nuclear medicine tech average wage and salary by state:
| State: | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Alabama | 28.92 | 60,160 |
| Alaska | 39.40 | 81,940 |
| Arizona | 36.97 | 76,890 |
| Arkansas | 30.09 | 62,600 |
| California | 47.27 | 98,320 |
| Colorado | 37.35 | 77,690 |
| Connecticut | 40.65 | 84,540 |
| Delaware | 35.99 | 74,860 |
| District of Columbia | 37.72 | 78,460 |
| Florida | 34.70 | 72,170 |
| Georgia | 33.73 | 70,160 |
| Hawaii | 41.15 | 85,590 |
| Idaho | 34.00 | 70,720 |
| Illinois | 34.89 | 72,580 |
| Indiana | 32.30 | 67,190 |
| Iowa | 33.02 | 68,680 |
| Kansas | 33.56 | 69,810 |
| Kentucky | 28.79 | 59,890 |
| Louisiana | 29.09 | 60,500 |
| Maine | 36.31 | 75,530 |
| Maryland | 37.66 | 78,330 |
| Massachusetts | 36.93 | 76,820 |
| Michigan | 31.48 | 65,470 |
| Minnesota | 37.99 | 79,010 |
| Mississippi | 31.42 | 65,350 |
| Missouri | 33.32 | 69,310 |
| Montana | 34.04 | 70,810 |
| Nebraska | 31.67 | 65,880 |
| Nevada | 36.93 | 76,810 |
| New Hampshire | 36.47 | 75,860 |
| New Jersey | 40.85 | 84,970 |
| New Mexico | 35.90 | 74,670 |
| New York | 37.89 | 78,810 |
| North Carolina | 32.09 | 66,750 |
| Ohio | 31.58 | 65,700 |
| Oklahoma | 30.21 | 62,840 |
| Oregon | 38.24 | 79,540 |
| Pennsylvania | 32.10 | 66,760 |
| Puerto Rico | 18.77 | 39,050 |
| Rhode Island | 39.87 | 82,930 |
| South Carolina | 30.84 | 64,150 |
| South Dakota | 27.48 | 57,170 |
| Tennessee | 30.55 | 63,540 |
| Texas | 34.15 | 71,040 |
| Utah | 32.57 | 67,740 |
| Virginia | 32.97 | 68,570 |
| Washington | 40.44 | 84,120 |
| West Virginia | 27.48 | 57,170 |
| Wisconsin | 35.24 | 73,300 |
| Wyoming | 30.75 | 63,960 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, on the Internet at bls.gov.