Florida may be the ultimate destination choice for theme park enthusiasts, golfers and beach combers, but when something goes wrong on vacation or in day-to-day life, medical professionals are standing by. To help patients suffering from broken bones or internal injuries, Florida's X-ray technicians, more formally known as radiologic technicians, didn't earn salaries matching their national counterparts, but wages varied throughout the Sunshine State.
Career Preparation
Becoming an X-ray technician requires a period of post-high school studies, but prospective technicians may choose program length. While a two-year associate's degree program is the most common, radiologic technology programs are also available in short-term certificates (up to a year) and four-year bachelor's programs. Florida is home to more than 20 schools offering radiography programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, including Indian River State College, Dade Medical College, Keiser University, Brevard Community College and Santa Fe College.
State and Nation
Radiologic technicians numbered 213,560 in 2009, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a median salary for the profession nationwide as $53,240. Statewide wages for Florida's 13,770 X-ray technicians fell under the national median, at $50,670. At the highest pay rate, Florida X-ray technicians in the 90th percentile earned $67,720, and at the low point, $35,770 in the 10th percentile.
Sunniest Cities
Although Florida's statewide median salary for X-ray technicians didn't match the country's, parts of the Sunshine State did afford higher wages. The highest-paid X-ray technicians were in Naples-Marco Island, earning $57,550 as a median salary. Also above the country and statewide salary levels were technicians in Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, earning $55,200 at the median level. Punta Gorda, at $54,830, Palm Coast, at $53,440, and Cape Coral-Fort Myers, at $53,290, also topped the national median. The highest salaries in the state were the 90th percentile wages in Port St. Lucie, at $78,210. Naples-Marco Island placed second, with 90th percentile salaries of $75,860.
Lowest Pay
The Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach areas paid the lowest median salaries for the profession, at $43,340, followed by Tallahassee's salaries for its X-ray technicians, at $44,470, and Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, at $44,710. Looking at the state's lowest 10th percentile wages, Port St. Lucie paid the least, at $29,540, followed by Orlando-Kissimmee at $30,310. X-ray technicians in Tallahassee earned a low level of $32,200 while those in Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach received $32,370 at the 10th percentile.
Tags: X-ray technicians, 10th percentile, 90th percentile, Florida X-ray, Florida X-ray technicians