With a radiology degree, you have countless options when it comes to choosing a place to work. In many fields, it can be difficult to find a job, so students entering the workforce for the first time resort to taking whatever offer they can get. This isn’t so in the medical world, including the field of radiology, as all types of medical workers are in high demand nearly everywhere in the country.

However, it does depend on your expectations. As a new radiology technician, you’ll be in competition for jobs that are lower-paying than average in this field, and with more and more people opting for careers in this industry, the job market is tightening. How can you ensure that you’ll find a job in your field? Start by applying at some of the top employers!

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 60% of all jobs in the radiology tech field are at hospitals. As of May 2008, there were 125,640 positions in this field at general medical and surgical hospitals, and annual mean wage for these workers was $53,790, which is about average across the board for all employers of radiology technicians.

Beyond hospitals, the most employment opportunities for radiology technicians come from the following types of employers:

• Offices of Physicians
• Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Federal Executive Branch

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also tracks the top-paying employers for radiology techs, though in many of these fields there are less than 1500 jobs across the country, so when there is an opening, the field is very competitive. Although many radiology technicians choose to register after getting just an associate’s degree in the field, you can increase your chances of getting one of these higher-paying jobs if you have your bachelor’s degree or advanced training in a specialty area. The five highest-paying types of employers for radiology techs, on average, are:

• Scientific Research and Development Services: $63,580 per year
• Employment Services: $60,140 per year
• Office Administrative Services: $$57,520 per year
• Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: $56,720 per year
• Specialty Hospitals (except Psychiatric or Substance Abuse Hospitals): $56,500

Remember, the salaries you’re seeing are averages, so that means that you have the potential to make a lot more every year at any of these types of facilities. Most, however, do require advanced training, and you may not qualify for top positions until you have several years of hands-on experience working as a radiology technician.

Across all parts of this industry, employment is projected to grow by about 17% from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than average for other industries. No matter where you work, there will be more jobs, including more jobs in advanced positions (such as management roles), in the radiology field. The population is getting older, which means an increase in illness and injury, so the medical industry will continue to expand over the next several decades at least.