Dental Hygiene or Radiologic Technology?

Question

I just recently chose Dental Hygiene as my major and I'm beginning to have second thoughts about it. I've just read about Rad techs and the thought of working with machines and top of the line technology while being in the health field really interests me. Is Radiologic technology a good career to pursue? Is the pay as good as a hygienest? Is it a stable career and how is the job outlook?

Answer 1

Both of these fields are in great demand in the area that I live in. Definitely good choices either way you go. I know that where I live, the Dental Hygienist makes more, but there is only one community college that offers the program that has 6 feeder community colleges. The Rad Tech program has 4 out of these same six schools.

This is not to say that the Rad Tech would not earn more in your area- check Salary.com to get a localized idea.

You need to decide if the Rad Tech program interests you but has a lower rate of pay; would this be OK with you. Stability is not a problem, I always see ads....pretty much anything in the medical line of jobs has a good shelf life.

Good Luck, but do what will make you happy.

Answer 2

Go with Dental Hygiene! There are hundreds of dental offices everywhere and you have so much flexibility working part time at one office or full time at 2 or more. Radiology techs are not in high demand as much as Hygienist are in my area bc many people are trained on the job so i've heard. Dental Hygienists make $97,000 in my area (Bay area, CA) and Radiology techs only make $50-60,000 and requires the same amout of time in school. I am an RDA going onto Hygiene and career wise it is the best choice out of the two. Good luck!

Answer 3

i've been a radiologic technologist in so.cal. for 3 years. last year i made about 62k. i don't know what the dental field pays but i'm happy with my choice. you can make more if you decide to advance to further modalities such as mri, rad. therapy, nuc. medicine, etc. the demand is pretty high in general but hospitals that are geographically close to schools with these programs tend to have more job applicants than jobs. you may need to move to the right area, but in california you should be starting at a minimum of $22/hr w/benefits. some areas(S.F.) may pay as high as $33/hr for a grad w/AS degree for general radiography alone. other states tend to pay less but that is offset by affordable housing prices. you might make 20-30% less but when your house costs half or even a third of the price you come out ahead.

Answer 4

Rad tech: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos105.htm

Dental hygienist: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm