Radiographers use x-ray machines and other devices to capture images of the body.
A career as a medical radiographer is a wise one, because according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the industry is expected to grow more quickly than average. The registration offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists is voluntary, but the registry also administers a number of state-specific mandatory licensing exams.
What Working as a Medical Radiographer Entails
Medical radiographers use devices that emit some form of radiation in order to create a photographic image of the inside of the body. Common devices that a radiographer might use include x-ray machines, magnetic resonance imagers and even computers to create three-dimensional models of bodily structures in a process called computed tomography, or CT scanning. Radiographers need to have strong social skills, as they communicate with the patients to ensure that they keep their body in proper alignment for the imaging devices. Radiography plays a major role in the preventive diagnosis of some ailments, such as breast cancer, and also helps doctors to determine a corrective course of action when dealing with general injuries -- for example, checking for broken bones or joint damage.
Educational Background Required for Medical Radiography
According the U.S. Department of Labor, education for a career in radiography takes at minimum a vocational skill certification program, and often includes an associate's or bachelor's degree with a related scientific medical focus on radiography. Radiographers who are skilled in multiple devices are most competitive in the job market, because they can apply to a greater number of positions.
Entry-Level and Best-in-Field Earnings as a Radiographer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's report on the profession, radiographers in the lowest 10 percent of reported earnings took home $35,100 on average, which forms a solid basis on which to judge the entry-level wage for radiography. Radiography also provides a rather large margin for growth in earnings based on individual merit, with the average earnings reported by the top 10 percent coming in at $74,970.
Average Salaries for Radiographers
According to the Bureau of Labor's May 2008 statistics, the reported median wage for radiographers was $52,210. There is a variation of up to $7,000 annually, depending on the venue of employment for radiographers. The lowest-paying venue was reported as being "offices of physicians," where a radiographer earned on average $48,530 yearly. The best-paying venue of employment was reported as "medical and diagnostic laboratories," where radiographers brought in an average of $55,210.
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