Online Radiology Technician Schools

If you’ve ever had an x-ray, did you ever wonder about that technician’s annual salary? Were you curious as to whether those technicians were stuck in that one area doing that one job forever? Radiographers, or radiologic technologists, can make a variety of salaries depending upon the environment they work in and the type of technology they use to diagnose patients.

No matter the environment, radiographers make about the same salaries nationwide; however, you may make more money working as a radiographer in a Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) than you would working the same occupation in a physician’s office.

The state in which you work also can influence the amount of money you might make as a radiographer. For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiographers in Massachusetts take home a mean average annual salary of $67,240, compared to the same salary of $41,660 in West Virginia, where there is a surplus of radiographers. Top pay for radiographers by city focuses on the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California area, where radiographers can make $76,580 per year, compared to Johnson City, Tennessee at $44,960 per year. Once again, the proliferation of radiologists in Tennessee accounts for the lower salary.

If you learn more about radiologists, however, you may understand that a degree and certification in this field does not limit your expertise. You also can become an expert in nuclear medicine, and the salaries for nuclear medicine technologists currently sit at about $10,000 more per year than radiographers. California remains top in the annual mean wage at $81,070 per year, whereas South Dakota pays only $55,690 per year annual mean wage. The highest paying city for this occupation is the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, California metropolitan division with 90 nuclear medicine technologists averaging $100,390 per year.

Other occupations related to radiography include cardiovascular technologists and technicians, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, diagnostic medical sonographers, radiation therapists and respiratory therapists. Of these, the radiation therapists may equal the salaries made by nuclear medicine technologists; otherwise, the salary ranges are similar, depending upon location and type of facility.

On average, median annual earnings of radiologic technologists were $48,170 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,840 and $57,940. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $68,920. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of radiologic technologists in 2006 were as follows:

• Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $51,280
• General medical and surgical hospitals: $48,830
• Offices of physicians: $45,500

Increases in salaries over the next decade will depend mainly upon advances in technologies and the ability of a radiographer to keep up with those advances. Often, continuing education is a necessity to advance into a new field or even to maintain a current career. Fortunately, radiologists often are the first to learn about new technologies and, if working for an environment that wants to keep up with the latest and best equipment, will often obtain the needed skills through work or through continuing education offered through employers.

Top Online Radiology Technician Degree Programs

	DeVry University — DeVry University's B.B.A. in Health Services Management is an online bachelor's degree with courses that provides radiology tech students with the pre-requisites they need to enter a radiology clinical program upon graduation. DeVry works with top business and health care industry leaders to design programs that produce graduates who meet their needs.
	South University — The A.S. in Allied Health Science degree programs online are designed to expose students to a broad education in general studies combined with an emphasis on life science subjects such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and pathophysiology. These programs offers student a knowledge base from which they may pursue their professional goals as radiographers.
	Ashford University — The BA in health care with a concentration in medical technology from Ashford is ideal for the working professional who wants to prepare for a career in radiology or other medtech field. Students in this program will learn the fundamentals of the different bacteriological, microscopic, and chemical procedures used in diagnosis and treatment of disease.
	Herzing College — The Associate of Science degree in medical assisting from Herzing provides students with an introduction to how a physician's office operates. Students of this program are trained to assist the doctor in the exam room, to perfom routine lab procedures such as radiological procedures, and to handle various administrative tasks. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be ready for entry-level employment as a medical assistant.
	Penn Foster College — Penn Foster's associate's degree in health information technology will teach a basic understanding of skills in subjects such as anatomy, medical terminology, data coding, legal aspects of health information, and database management. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to work within numerous healthcare settings, including nursing home, hospital, home heath agencies, health clinics, and more.
	American InterContinental University — The AABA degree program in healthcare administration offered by American InterContinental University is designed to prepare students for organizational tasks and clerical work within a healthcare office. The program is taught entirely online, making it convenient for anyone who wants to study at his/her own pace or complete the degree as quickly as possible.
	Keiser University — Keiser University's Associate of Science in Medical Assisting is an online degree that prepares students to perform medical assisting duties under direction of a physician/practitioner. Medical assistants also learn to function in an administrative capacity, which prepares radiographers for medical exams and for career advancement.
	Virginia College Online — Virginia College online offers a bachelor's degree in health services management for individuals looking either for entry-level positions within healthcare or a promotion within a current medical career. This program prepares students for management in hospitals, private practices, home health centers, and other types of healthcare organizations.
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