Nuclear medicine technologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,080 | $37.54 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $101,370 | $48.74 |
| Mean (average) | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| 90th percentile | $134,500 | $64.66 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Nuclear medicine technologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $82,630 | $64,150 | $100,310 | 320 | 1.38 |
| Arizona | $100,130 | $81,030 | $123,130 | 430 | 1.22 |
| Arkansas | $83,670 | $58,130 | $103,220 | 190 | 1.32 |
| California | $162,380 | $122,760 | $200,990 | 1,500 | 0.75 |
| Colorado | $116,990 | $94,950 | $132,580 | 200 | 0.65 |
| Connecticut | $117,150 | $98,800 | $129,720 | 170 | 0.9 |
| Delaware | $100,470 | $83,190 | $122,490 | 70 | 1.24 |
| District of Columbia | $116,630 | $96,160 | $150,860 | 30 | 0.4 |
| Florida | $97,310 | $80,070 | $110,640 | 1,740 | 1.59 |
| Georgia | $100,880 | $75,490 | $125,760 | 540 | 1 |
| Hawaii | $125,650 | $108,140 | $130,220 | 30 | 0.47 |
| Idaho | $104,630 | $83,550 | $123,990 | 80 | 0.81 |
| Illinois | $104,950 | $84,590 | $122,800 | 620 | 0.92 |
| Indiana | $103,230 | $85,140 | $119,310 | 280 | 0.8 |
| Iowa | $92,890 | $80,090 | $105,970 | 150 | 0.89 |
| Kansas | $64,610 | $55,310 | $104,100 | 380 | 2.42 |
| Kentucky | $95,470 | $75,360 | $117,540 | 270 | 1.24 |
| Louisiana | $87,670 | $69,040 | $105,050 | 170 | 0.79 |
| Maine | $99,500 | $80,820 | $113,730 | 70 | 1.01 |
| Maryland | $104,150 | $87,120 | $122,930 | 330 | 1.09 |
| Massachusetts | $118,250 | $88,470 | $148,900 | 380 | 0.95 |
| Michigan | $95,400 | $75,000 | $101,680 | 640 | 1.32 |
| Minnesota | $107,380 | $96,440 | $119,650 | 200 | 0.63 |
| Mississippi | $83,340 | $64,880 | $101,800 | 160 | 1.23 |
| Missouri | $98,010 | $76,660 | $118,120 | 360 | 1.13 |
| Montana | $100,490 | $62,340 | $107,830 | 50 | 0.97 |
| Nebraska | $104,320 | $58,130 | $124,410 | 120 | 1.09 |
| Nevada | $109,150 | $97,640 | $136,520 | 120 | 0.72 |
| New Hampshire | $107,890 | $103,570 | $123,450 | 60 | 0.81 |
| New Jersey | $124,280 | $101,830 | $140,340 | 540 | 1.15 |
| New Mexico | $98,400 | $74,820 | $125,230 | 70 | 0.71 |
| New York | $118,650 | $96,870 | $134,400 | 890 | 0.83 |
| North Carolina | $85,240 | $67,080 | $103,980 | 600 | 1.1 |
| North Dakota | $102,640 | $76,250 | $115,390 | 50 | 1.08 |
| Ohio | $97,570 | $80,620 | $105,990 | 670 | 1.11 |
| Oklahoma | $90,640 | $72,110 | $103,490 | 200 | 1.07 |
| Oregon | $122,100 | $101,080 | $132,510 | 180 | 0.83 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,570 | $75,270 | $118,110 | 740 | 1.11 |
| Puerto Rico | $52,930 | $37,220 | $57,100 | 240 | 2.35 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | $99,230 | $133,890 | 110 | 2.02 |
| South Carolina | $90,230 | $76,820 | $102,760 | 280 | 1.1 |
| South Dakota | $82,010 | $39,090 | $101,940 | 140 | 2.76 |
| Tennessee | $84,470 | $68,640 | $108,020 | 390 | 1.07 |
| Texas | $101,170 | $81,330 | $124,530 | 1,060 | 0.69 |
| Utah | $111,770 | $91,570 | $129,590 | 120 | 0.65 |
| Virginia | $101,820 | $84,600 | $120,070 | 430 | 0.95 |
| Washington | $126,200 | $102,970 | $158,740 | 320 | 0.83 |
| West Virginia | $76,460 | $65,570 | $101,300 | 150 | 1.89 |
| Wisconsin | $98,450 | $77,380 | $118,560 | 390 | 1.22 |
| Wyoming | $81,900 | $78,580 | $119,660 | 40 | 1.27 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for nuclear medicine technologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for nuclear medicine technologists
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist CIP 51.0905
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
- Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- Record and process results of procedures.
- Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
- Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
- Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Gamma camera software
- Medovation RadRunner
- Radiopharmacy inventory databases
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT), Nuclear Cardiology Technologist, Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Technologist (Nuclear Medicine Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography Technologist), Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT), Radiation Safety Officer, Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Staff Nuclear Medicine Technologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make?
The national median annual wage for nuclear medicine technologists was $101,370 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $78,080 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $134,500. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do nuclear medicine technologists need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is nuclear medicine technologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of nuclear medicine technologists to change +4.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay nuclear medicine technologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($162,380), Washington ($126,200), Hawaii ($125,650). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.