Nuclear medicine technicians perform diagnostic medical tests that use drugs containing radioactive ingredients and imaging equipment to take pictures of the interior organs and other structures of a patient's body. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the demand for nuclear medicine technicians will increase by 16 percent from 2008 through 2018. Entry into the field typically requires a minimum of an associate degree. As of May 2009, nuclear medicine technicians earned an average $68,450 per year, according to BLS.
Experience
A nuclear medicine technologist's experience in the field impacted her average annual salary reports Payscale. An entry-level technician with less than one year's experience averaged $41,430 to $51,739 per year as of November 2010. Technicians with one to four years' experience made an average of $41,755 to $60,058 annually, while those with five to nine years' experience averaged $54,947 to $69,470. Once he worked in the field for 20 years or more, a nuclear medicine technician received an average of $61,398 to $90,000 per year.
Employer Type
Nuclear medicine technician salaries differed depending on the employer type as of May 2009, explains BLS. While working at the largest employer in the field, general medical hospitals, technicians earned an average of $67,750 per year. Those who worked in physicians' practices enjoyed the highest average annual salaries of $71,070. The federal government paid technicians an average of $68,780 per year, and average annual salaries at medical and diagnostic laboratories were $68,150. Nuclear medicine technicians employed by outpatient clinics averaged $65,210 annually.
Education and Certification
The amount of education a nuclear medicine technician completed and any additional certifications she held affected her average annual salary according to Payscale. Those with Associate of Applied Science degrees earned an average of $24.79 to $35.23 per hour or $51,563 to $73,278 per year, based on a 40-hour work week as of November 2010. Technicians with a Bachelor of Science degree averaged $26.06 to $35.61 hourly or $54,204 to $74,068 annually. With certification as a Registered Technologist in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, technicians earned an average of $49,485 to $67,568 per year. This certification is voluntary and requires the completion of a written examination.
Geography
Average salaries for nuclear medicine technicians varied geographically as of May 2009, explains BLS. Florida had the highest concentration of technicians in the country; those working in the state made an average of $65,360 annually. Nuclear medicine technicians in California received the highest average annual salaries at $86,590. Other high-paying states for technicians included Nevada, Washington, Maryland and New Jersey; average salaries in these locations ranged from $78,590 to $80,520 per year.
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