X-Ray Technicians take home an average annual salary of $62,486. That sounds interesting, right?
In this article, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about X-ray technician salaries across states in the US. and how to become an X-ray tech.
Before we go on to tell you the salary range of radiographers, let’s talk about who an X-ray Technician is.
Table of contents
- Who Is An X-ray Technician?
- What Are The Duties Of An X-ray Technician?
- How Much Does An X-ray Technician Earn Hourly?
- What Are The Best Paying States For An X-ray Technician?
- How To Become An X-ray Technician
- Skills Required To Become An X-ray Technician
- Where Do X-Ray Technicians Work?
- What Is The Workday Of A Radiographer Like?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- References
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Who Is An X-ray Technician?
X-ray Technicians are qualified individuals who specialize in capturing patients’ internal anatomy such as bones, soft tissues, and organs to assist doctors in the diagnosis of patients’ illnesses, diseases, or injuries. They guide patients in the process of x-ray capturing so as to avoid harsh exposure to radiation and explain the procedure and outcome of the X-ray to the patients. They are also called Radiologists.
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What Are The Duties Of An X-ray Technician?
The following are a few responsibilities of an X-ray Technician:
- Handles the X-ray equipment in the event of capturing images of a patient’s anatomy.
- Explain the outcome of the X-ray results.
- Ensure that the patient is adequately protected from the harsh effects of radiation during capturing.
- Advice on treatment recommendations to the doctors based on the outcome of the X-ray capturing.
- Keeping accurate and up-to-date records of completed x-ray procedures.
- Obtaining the patient’s identity and Doctor’s instructions before proceeding with capturing the image.
- Supporting the patient’s physical and psychological needs.
- Supervising imaging support assistants.
- Staying updated with radiation regulations and other health and safety guidelines.
How Much Does An X-ray Technician Earn Hourly?
According to indeed, the average salary for an x-ray technician is $27.77 per hour in the United States.
According to ziprecruiter, the average hourly salary range of an X-ray Technician is $27.31, the daily salary is $312, the average weekly salary is $1,143, and the average monthly salary is $4,424, the average annual salary is $62,486.
The salary of an X-ray Technician depends on certain factors or variables such as the geographical location of the place of work, educational qualification and experience of the X-ray Technician, and position held by the X-ray Technician.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook will continue to soar at 13% between 2016 and 2026.
What Are The Best Paying States For An X-ray Technician?
The following is the list of 10 best paying states for X-ray Technicians showing their annual and hourly pay:
| State | Annual Pay | Hourly Pay |
| Massachusetts | $50,839 | $24.44 |
| Hawaii | $50,227 | $24.15 |
| Connecticut | $49,827 | $23.96 |
| Tennessee | $48,921 | $23.52 |
| Minnesota | $48,704 | $23.42 |
| Ohio | $48,562 | $23.35 |
| Rhode Island | $48,359 | $23.25 |
| Washington | $48,155 | $23.15 |
| New York | $47,637 | $22.90 |
| North Dakota | $47,541 | $22.86 |
How To Become An X-ray Technician
To become an X-ray technician, there are certain steps and requirements you need to fulfill academically and otherwise. Let’s take a look at the step by step process of becoming an X-ray technician:
1. Obtain an educational qualification which is a bachelor’s degree in radiography
You must enroll in an accredited x-ray technology post-secondary program. The majority of the associate degree in Radiologic Technology programs take two years to complete, including compulsory externships and training.
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2. Complete an internship
Most X-ray technician educational programs demand the completion of an internship. During the internship, you learn the important duties of an X-ray technician and get prepared for your licensure exam.
3. Get licensed by the state where you intend to work
Although state licensing laws differ, you may be required to obtain a license in order to work. To set yourself apart from the competitors, you can pursue certification from the ARRT or American Registration of Radiologic Technologists.
4. Apply for X-ray technician jobs
Once you have completed your education, and internship and passed the licensure exam, the next bold step to take is to apply for X-ray technician jobs.
Skills Required To Become An X-ray Technician
To become an X-ray technician, you’ll need a combination of hard and soft skills such as:
1. Communication
As an X-ray technician, excellent communication skills are essential. To understand X-ray orders and report results, X-ray technicians will use written communication abilities. The X-ray technician’s nonverbal abilities are also vital for detecting when a patient is in pain or discomfort.
2. Mechanical skills
As an X-ray technician, you must be comfortable with the machines. To reach certain sections of the body, X-ray specialists will frequently have to move and adjust the machine. They may also be required to perform basic troubleshooting in order to resolve minor X-ray machine issues.
3. Organizational skills
An X-ray technician may see a large number of patients in a single day, and organizational skills will aid them in maintaining proper paperwork. An X-ray technician’s organizational abilities will also help them keep each patient’s information private and secure.
4. Time management skills
As an X-ray tech, you’re meant to manage your time efficiently so as to meet up with the demands of the parents and the doctor.
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Where Do X-Ray Technicians Work?
Here’s a list of some of the places you can find X-Ray Technicians:
1. Healthcare facilities
The most typical area for x-ray technologists to work in is a hospital. Throughout a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, they collaborate with doctors and nurses. X-ray technicians are most commonly found in the radiology and imaging departments of hospitals. You could work in the intensive care unit, neonatal unit, A&E, or surgical rooms in addition to these departments.
Diagnostic imaging may be performed at the bedside or in an examination room if you work in a hospital’s A&E department. To work in this setting, X-ray technicians must be quick and precise. They do imaging before, during, and after a medical procedure in an operating theatre, as directed by the surgeon.
2. Non-hospital facilities
If you don’t want to work in a hospital, you could look at positions in research institutes or veterinary practices. Prisons, customs and excise, and the military forces are examples of non-medical facilities that require x-ray technologists. You could also work as an application professional for an equipment manufacturer. Or as a sales representative to teach hospital staff how to use new technology.
What Is The Workday Of A Radiographer Like?
An X-ray technician is a person who works in a medical setting and has the following traits:
- They spend a lot of time on their feet.
- Heavy lifting of patients and equipment is required.
- Radiation exposure is common.
- Long shifts, including evenings and weekends, are required.
- Individualized working conditions.
The majority of an X-ray technician’s day will be spent standing, adjusting the machine and the patient to get the proper imaging angles. They are also exposed to radiation on a daily basis but are required to wear protective equipment to reduce their exposure.
Although many X-ray technologists work full-time, hours might vary based on the work environment. X-ray technicians who work in a medical office should expect standard office hours, however, those who work in a hospital may be required to work evenings and weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
It takes one or two years depending on the education program chosen by the individual.
X-ray Technicians capture images of a patient’s anatomy in line with the doctor’s instructions so as to aid diagnosis.
Yes, there are online schools for X-ray Technicians such as Oregon Institute of Technology, Pima Medical Institute, Cox College, Upstate Medical University, Boise State University, etc.
The average monthly salary of an X-ray tech is $4,424.
Conclusion
There are some areas of human anatomy that the eyes of doctors cannot see. This is called internal anatomy. This is where X-ray Technicians come in, through the use of X-ray equipment and doctor’s instructions, they assist in the diagnosis of patients therein and profer treatments.
References
- betterteam.com – X-Ray Technician Job Description
- indeed.com – Learn About Being An X-Ray Technician
- indeed.com – X-ray Technician salary in United States
- ziprecruiter.com – What Is the Average X-Ray Technician Salary by State
- cambridgehealth.edu – What Is the Process of Becoming an X-Ray Technician?
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