X-ray Technician Salary

X-ray technicians are part of the group of radiologic technicians, health care professionals who are trained to operate state of the art medical equipment. Just like those who work in fields like diagnostic radiography, mammography or nuclear medicine, X-ray technicians operate high-end equipment in order to take clear pictures of the bones and internal organs of the patient, to detect conditions, fractures and other conditions that can endanger the health o the patient. These professionals can be found in convalescent homes, in radiology clinics as well as in dental offices, and their median yearly wages vary greatly across the United States of America. Generally speaking, a fully trained and certified X-ray technician should expect to make between $40,000 and $80,000 a year, with a median salary of $50,000.

Pay Scale In Different Parts Of The United States of America

One of the highest paying states at the moment, not just for X-ray technicians but for radiologic technicians in general, is New York. Here, these professionals make around $73,000 a year, and the state of Mississippi pays them a similar sum. Other states that pay X-ray technicians median wages of over $70,000 a year are Washington DC, Virginia as well as Massachusetts, while the states of Georgia, California and Connecticut pay them with around $67,000 a year.

X-ray Technician Job Description

The X-ray technician usually works closely with a radiologist (commonly referred to as a radiology technician), and he is responsible for obtaining X-rays with the help of the X-ray machine. These professionals have a series of duties, from explaining the entire scanning procedure to the patient and helping them get in front of the X-ray machine or on the X-ray table, to actually using the machine to get high-quality and accurate images. They can be found in different types of health care facilities, from private clinics and health centers to public hospitals and medical laboratories.

Just like all the other professionals who work in this field, the X-ray technician is an essential part o the radiology department, as they are responsible for the entire process of X-ray imaging. After taking the X-rays, they need to forward the results to a specialist for interpretation – however, some of them can read them as well. These professionals can be trained in basic X-ray machinery operation, or they can choose to get a double specialization and use other magnetic resonance imaging devices and become specialized mammographers or specialists in computed tomography. It is the duty of the X-ray technician to ensure the safety and security of the patient throughout the entire process, as well as to produce high-quality images on a consistent basis.

Other notable duties of the X-ray technician include keeping track of all the medical records of the patients, managing the work schedules, using radiation with care and caution, keeping all the X-ray machinery in quality working order (and performing maintenance services, if they are certified to do so), assist other physicians and radiologists in the process of image evaluation and so on.

Programs:

One of the greatest benefits of working as an X-ray technician is that you can get your credentials and start working as an X-ray professional within only six months, provided that you enroll in an accredited certificate program. However, it is of paramount importance to get an Associate’s Degree in the field provided by an accredited institution, and this typically takes around two years to complete. During the training, you will learn more about physics, biology and anatomy, and you will understand how radiation machines work and how living tissue behaves under radiation. You will need to complete both theoretical and practical training.

Certification

Although licensure is mandatory for X-ray Technicians in most of the states of the USA, the certification is not – however, getting certified as a professional X-ray technician can increase your chances of reaching the top of your career. You will need to firstly complete an accredited radiography training program that is approved by the JRCERT, and only after that you will be able to sit for the exam that is administered by the ARRTY, or the American Registry of Radiology Technologists.

X-ray Technician Salary In Canada, Australia And The UK

In Canada, an X-ray Technician can make around CAD30/hour, while in Australia they make around Au$50,000 a year. Also, in the United Kingdom these professionals get between 20,000 and 40,000 pounds a year.

Verdict On X-ray Technician Salary

To conclude, the salary of an X-ray technician is more than rewarding, given the fact that one can become a technician within no more than two years!