Radiography Program – Pineville Campus

Career Opportunities:

Radiologic technologists held about 162,000 jobs in 1998. Most technologists were radiographers, while the rest worked as sonographers. About 1 radiologic technologist in 5 worked part time. More than half of jobs for technologists are in hospitals. Most of the rest are in physicians’ offices and clinics, including diagnostic imaging centers.

Job Outlook:

Employment of radiologic technologists is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2008, as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology. Although physicians are enthusiastic about the clinical benefits of new technologies, the extent to which they are adopted depends largely on cost and reimbursement considerations. Some promising new technologies may not come into widespread use because they are too expensive and third-party payers may not be willing to pay for their use.

Radiologic technologists who are educated and credentialed in more than one type of imaging technology, such as radiography and ultrasonography or nuclear medicine, will have better employment opportunities as employers look for new ways to control costs. In hospitals, multi-skilled employees will be the most sought after, as hospitals respond to cost pressures by continuing to merge departments.

Hospitals will remain the principal employer of radiologic technologists. However, employment is expected to grow most rapidly in offices and clinics of physicians, including diagnostic imaging centers. Health facilities such as these are expected to grow very rapidly through 2008 due to the strong shift toward outpatient care, encouraged by third-party payers and made possible by technological advances that permit more procedures to be performed outside the hospital. Some job openings will also arise from the need to replace technologists who leave the occupation.

Earnings:

Median annual earnings of radiologic technologists and technicians were $38,064 in 2005. CT Tech $43,701, MRI Tech $50,170, Mammography Tech $45,094, Nuclear Medicine Tech $47,715, Cardiovascular Tech $42,744, Ultrasound Tech $47, 986.