X ray technicians require specialized training.
X-ray technicians perform an important service in medicine. As baby boomers age, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for these workers to increase by approximately 17 percent by 2018. As an X-ray technician, your job is to explain the examination procedure, remove any jewelry that prevents the production of high-quality pictures, measure the area you must X-ray, and set the controls of the machine accordingly. For a job that plays a key role in the diagnostic process, you must take specialized training. At a minimum you need a certificate, but more advanced degrees can result in better pay.
Certificates
A certificate in X-ray technology can earn you an entry level position as an X-ray technician. You don't even have to attend a university to acquire one. As the X-ray Technician website points out, you can also obtain a certificate from a medical center or hospital. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this process usually takes 21 to 24 months. A certificate will enable you to take the American Registry of Radiologists national certification test. According to the X-ray Technician website, Salary.com says that technicians with certificates make an average annual salary of $47,000.
Associate's Degrees
The best method to obtain an associate's degree in X-ray technology is through a college or university. According to the BLS website, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiotechnology accredited 397 institutions to grant this degree in 2009 alone. As the X-ray Technology article suggests, this will also increase your earning potential. Employers will pay $50,000 or more for a technician holding this degree.
Bachelor's Degrees
With a bachelor's degree, you can find work as a radiologist teacher or a supervisor. Your earning potential rises as well. The X-ray Tech Schools website quotes the Bureau of Labor Statistics as stating that you can earn up to $75,000 a year for this particular position if you hold a bachelor's degree in the field. Although there is no requirement in the field for a bachelor's degree, the College of Southern Idaho's Health Sciences and Human Services website says that the Standard Six of the Standards of an Accredited Educational Program in Radiologic Sciences recommends that all clinical education coordinators possess a bachelor's degree.
Master's Degrees
Earning a master's degree in this field can expand your earning potential yet further. As a radiology teacher at a university, you can earn $100,000 or more annually. The College of Southern Idaho website points out that Standard Six suggests that education program directors hold the minimum of a master's degree. According to the Education Portal website, radiologic administrators earned $88,650 to $96,660 as of 2008.
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