Radiology personnel perform diagnostic imaging tasks, such as taking x-rays.
Students who choose a career in radiology will be joining a field where the demand for trained specialists is expected to grow through 2019. Occupation choices range from technicians to radiologists, with a certificate or two-year degree being the minimum educational starting point. Radiology is sometimes referred to as diagnostic imaging.
Growth of the Profession
As the U.S. population ages and technology advances, the demand for workers in the radiology field will increase. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook says the demand for radiologic technologists alone is expected to increase by 17 percent by 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Specialties
The field of radiology offers many options for career choices. A person can become a radiologic technologist, a technician, a nurse who specializes in caring for radiology patients, or a radiologist, among the career choices. Additionally, radiology workers, including radiologists, can choose to specialize within their field, such as only working with pediatric patients, cancer patients or senior citizens.
Educational Requirements
A radiologist is a medical doctor and must complete a bachelor's degree and then medical school and a residency. However, a certificate program or an associate degree in the field suffices for most of the other radiologic occupations. The society notes there are 1,000 programs for radiologic technicians in the United States. Students should start planning for their radiology careers in high school by taking courses in biology, chemistry, math and physics.
Salaries
The starting salary for entry-level salary for radiologic technologists averages $44,500 and $57,500 for radiation therapists. The jobs handbook says experienced technologists earn upwards of $75,000 annually. Radiologist earnings average about $200,000 annually at the high end, according to PayScale.
Job Requirements
Radiology workers need to be strong as they must someitmes move heavy equipment around. They also need to be able to stand on their feet for long periods. Additionally, they must be very detail-oriented in order to get diagnostic images of the right body parts. Radiology personnel usually wear dosimeters, which measure the amount of radiation they are exposed to; protective measures, such as lead aprons, are taken to keep the exposure as low as possible.
Tags: career choices, diagnostic imaging, radiologic technologists, Radiology personnel, they must
