Because post-secondary education is required to attain a job and salary in the radiography field, prospective radiographers -- also known as radiologic technicians -- who choose to pursue a bachelor's degree might set themselves up for higher wages. Many other factors affect a radiographer's salary, including place of residency and field of work. Investing two additional years of school might have a much longer resulting payout.
Summary
Radiographers numbered approximately 53,010 as of May 2010, earning countrywide median salaries of $64,380. When the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted its Occupational Employment and Wages report, it found the outlier salaries for the profession at $88,490 in the 90th percentile and $44,900 in the 10th percentile.
Location
Employers of radiographers in Massachusetts paid the highest annual average wages in the country at the time of the BLS report, with salaries of $80,000, a 50th-percentile wage close to the country's 90th percentile. Close behind were employers in Oregon, with average salaries for workers in the profession at $79,740. Colorado, California and Washington were all close to the same higher-than-average rates, at $77,880, $77,260 and $77,190 respectively. California was the state with the largest per-capita employment in the field of radiography as well.
Top Categories
None of the medical industries topped the BLS list of the highest-paying categories for radiographer employment. Instead, temporary employers led the list, paying the highest wages at $73,040. In second place were colleges and universities, paying radiographers annual average wages of $72,440. Outpatient care centers took third place, paying $70,440. While general medical and surgical hospitals and doctors' offices did pay slightly higher-than-average salaries, their wages of $65,010 and $64,740 were not high enough to get them on the BLS top-five list.
Bachelor Benefits
The BLS cites the associate degree in radiography as the most common educational path for prospective radiologic technicians. The wages report does not delineate between associate and bachelor's degrees, but radiography professionals who do seek a four-year degree over a two-year degree might command higher salaries. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists accredits 754 radiography programs at both two- and four-year colleges and universities -- the total includes schools in the United States, Australia and Canada. Employers' raises in salary for bachelor's degrees will vary.
Tags: 90th percentile, annual average, annual average wages, average wages, bachelor degrees, colleges universities, degree might
