Radiology technicians

Question

Some questions about radiology technicians and their jobs...

Please, serious answers only. Best answer gets 10 pts, of course.

1. What kind of money does a radiology tech make?

2. Is it an interesting or fun job?

3. How do you get a position at a hospital? Do you go in and apply in hopes that they're hiring, or do you look for 'now hiring' ads (if so, where)?

4. Do you handle the X-ray, MRI, and CAT scan machines, or just one or the other?

5. Are the techs required to wear scrubs?

Thank you all so much!! I've been looking into radiology tech for a while now, but I need to talk to some real people who know what they're talking about!

Answer 1

Well, first off, we are called radiologic technologists....technician is a demeaning term, so scratch that one from your vocabulary.  

1.  The American Society of Radiologic Technologists just did a large salary survey, in 2007. The salary varies, depending on your experience, specialties and geographical area. To view, the survey, and see the average salary in your state, you can go to this link:

https://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/research/...

For example, in Alabama, the mean average salary for a RT was $43,196 in 2007.

With MRI:  $51,174

with CT scanning:  $45,854

You can divide those salaries by 2080 (40 hours per week X 52 weeks) for an average hourly salary.

2.  It can be a very interesting job, however what interests me may bore the h**l out of you!  I suggest you do an observation period in an imaging department to see if you like it.

3.  Lots of times, you will end up getting hired at a facility where you do your clinical or practical training during your schooling.  You can also look at hospital websites in your area...many post job openings.

4.  RTs do more than just x-rays of bones. We do fluoroscopy studies (involving the intestinal tract and barium), arthrograms (assisting the radiologist with injecting contrast or dye into joints for evaluation) and myelograms (assisting the radiologist with injecting contrast into the spinal canal). If you work in a hospital setting, you will do portable exams in ICU, CCU, the ER and even surgery.  Some RTs take x-rays in the morgue.

Most RTs will also become proficient and licensed in other modalities, such as mammography, CT and/or MRI.  This training does not require any additional formal training, and is usually learned on the job.  The more licenses you have, the more money you can make, as you will be in higher demand. With additional schooling, you can also do ultrasound.

I work in a free standing imaging center, and I rotate a week in x-ray, a week in mammography, a week in MRI or CT and a week in ultrasound.  Most employers like having an employee who can rotate to different modalities.  It makes it easier for them to cover for those out sick or on vacation.

5.  Most RTs wear scrubs.  I am not sure you have to, but most do.  We are exposed to bodily fluids, especially the RTs who work in the hospital settings.   We have one RT who only does mammograms, and she wears nice street clothing, with a white lab jacket.  Other than that, the rest of us all wear scrubs.  Although, now that I think about it, the men do not wear scrub bottoms, but Dockers.