Radiographers operate equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
A radiographer is an important part of a patient's radiological team. Education is but one key to having a successful career as a radiological technologist, as radiographers are more commonly called these days. Radiographers also need to be strong, detail-oriented and work well with others as well as have good people skills.
Education
Radiological technicians need specialized training in the radiological field. At the minimum, they need a certificate, but most have associate's degrees and some even have bachelor's degrees, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Handbook." The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists will require registry members to have at least an associate's degree before they can take the registry exam in any of its disciplines, including radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging. The degree does not have to be in radiologic science, though prospective members will need the specialized education.
Strength and Stamina
Radiographers need to be strong, with the ability to spend long periods on their feet and the strength to push heavy equipment around and manipulate patients to get them in the best position to make diagnostic images, as X-rays are called these days.
People Skills
Radiologic technicians need to have good people skills. Sick or injured people, including those who are in a lot of pain, can be difficult to work with. A radiologist must be skilled at putting patients at ease. This can be done through friendly conversation or explaining the upcoming procedures in layman's terms, the BLS Occupational Handbook says.
Mechanical and Manual Skills
Because radiographers will be working with sophisticated imaging equipment, they need to have some mechanical skills. Radiologic technologists who can operate several types of imaging equipment, from CT scanners to MRI machines, will have better employment opportunities, the Occupational Handbook says. They also need good manual dexterity; radiology probably is not the best occupation for a person who is all thumbs.
Detail-Oriented
Radiographers must be very detail-oriented. They must position the diagnostic imaging equipment in just the right position over the patient's body. If the position is not spot on, the wrong area may be imaged, making it difficult for a doctor to make the correct diagnosis. Radiological technologists sometimes mix the solutions that patients are required to drink before some imaging tests. It is important to the tests and the patient's health that these solutions are mixed correctly.
Salary
Radiographers can earn good money. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics division says the median wage for radiographers was $25.59 hourly, or $53,240, in May 2009. The top 10 percent of radiographers nationwide earned $36.27 per hour, or $75,440 annually.
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