X-ray technicians create two-dimensional images used for medical diagnoses.
X-ray technicians, also called radiographers or radiologic technicians, use radiation-emitting equipment to create anatomical images used for medical diagnoses. Whether they're investigating broken bones or looking for foreign objects in the body, X-ray technicians work closely with patients, explain procedures, provide lead shields to minimize radiation exposure and position equipment properly to capture the best images. Entry-level radiographers earn $44,500 a year, according to 2010 data from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Factors affecting salaries include years of experience, type of employer and geographic location of employer.
Salary by Experience
As X-ray technicians advance in their careers, yearly salaries rise significantly. Those with five to nine years of experience make $30,517 to $53,153 a year, as of 2010, while those who've passed the 20-year mark earn $40,059 to $64,538, according to PayScale. Those with the most experience and highest salaries typically have advanced to the positions of chief or senior technician, or program director.
Salary by Employer
While hospitals hire the majority of X-ray technicians, private physician offices and the government also employ them. Technicians working in hospitals make $30,520 to $49,707 yearly, and those employed in private practice earn salaries in a similar range, from $30,760 to $49,579, according to PayScale's 2010 data. Federal, state and local governments pay the least, with yearly salaries ranging from approximately $25,000 to a little more than $41,000. Most technicians work 40-hour weeks, notes the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and some hold multiple part-time jobs with different employers.
Salary by Location
PayScale maintains salary data on seven states, and of these, California and Illinois offer the highest salary ranges at $41,437 to $53,646 and $40,724 to $50,868, respectively. Technicians earning the least in Texas make $24,613, as of 2010, while technicians making the most in New York earn $55,197 a year. The BLS notes that some areas of the country have a greater need for X-ray technicians than other, and technicians willing to relocate are more marketable.
Job Outlook
The BLS, which tracks labor data for X-ray technicians under the broader category of radiologic technologists and technicians, says the field as a whole is expected to add 37,000 jobs between 2008 and 2018, a 17 percent increase. An aging population will increase the need for diagnostic imaging, which frequently is used to develop or confirm diagnoses. With advanced training, technicians can move on to higher-paying radiologic technologist jobs, which involve working with mammography, CT scanning or MRI scanning equipment, depending on area of specialty.
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