Radiologist technician ?

Question

Just curious if anyone knows anything about this career? If you are one...what does this job consist of? What is the average starting salary? Just curious...any info would be appreciated. Thank you

Answer 1

The correct title is radiologic technologist (not x-ray technician, anoldmick). Besides regular x-rays, we also do barium studies like upper GIs and barium enemas, intravenous pyelograms (IVP), hysterosalpingograms (HSG), cystograms, myelograms, portable x-rays in ER and ICU, operating room cases using a machine called a C-arm, etc. etc. etc.

Salary varies a lot. Here is the American Society of Radiologic Technologists latest salary survey: http://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/research/wss2007/wss07annualcompensation.pdf
In South Carolina, the average salary is in the low $40000s.

Check out their videos too: https://www.asrt.org/content/RecruitmentRetention/RecruitmentTools/career_videos.aspx

You can find accredited schools here (choose Radiography): http://arrt.org/index.html?content=http://www.arrt.org/nd/listOfSchools.ndm/listSchools&iframe=yes

To BoogiesMommy06 : It is NOT an easy job. And 40 hours per week for 2 years seemed like a lot of school to me.

Answer 2

I are wun! lol... The job you're describing is that of an x-ray technician. He or she is the one who produces x-ray films of the human body at the direction of a radiologist - an M.D. who specializes in the diagnostic and theraputic uses of radiation and radiation-producing machines and substances.
The Armed Forces offer x-ray school to enlistees - that's where I got my training and experience - at the Army's school at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The Navy and Air Force offer the same schooling. When I went through the school it took 19 weeks. One could become nationally certified if one had two years of closely-documented experience following completion of the school - which I did, and I have my license in x-ray technology from New York state.
There are two-year and four-year programs in radiographic technology available. In addition to producing diagnostic films, a modern x-ray tech also operates ultrasound machines, CT scanners, MRI scanners, PET scanners and nuclear medicine, all of which are diagnostic tools, and can specialize in the operation of any of them. An x-ray technician can also specialize in the application of radiation as therapy. That includes the use of powerful machines that produce high energy radiation such as a bevatron, and radioactive medicines that can be administered internally.
The preparation one would be wise to undertake while in high school would be first and second year algebra and general biology. Don't worry so much about chemistry; the films are developed by a machine, and what little chem you need will be taught while you're attending x-ray school.
Salary depends on experience and your level of technical expertise. You can expect to start within reasonable distance of forty thousand dollars a year and, if you certify in a specialty such as nuclear medicine technology, you can go as high as eighty thousand a year. It is a good career field, but I found I wanted to get closer to the patients and help determine the outcome of their illness/disability, so in addition to my license as an x-ray technician I took my RN. I've gone for continuing and higher education ever since I got that RN thirty years ago...

Answer 3

they're separate. you have lots of the teachings and classes executed already in case you're a radiologist technician, yet to grow to be a radiologist, you will might desire to take some greater stepped forward classes.

Answer 4

A rad tech is the person that takes x-ray, does ultrasounds, MRI's, CT scans, etc. etc.

It depends on where you live as to what the pay will be. Starting out a rad tech makes about the same as a new RN, fresh out of school. The difference is a rad techs pay will not increase as much as an RN's pay. I would say some where between $15-$20 an hour right out of school. When you go into a specialty such as MRI, Sonograms, etc is when you get into more pay.

Its an easy job, not much schooling and decent pay.

Answer 5

Depending what state and area of the state you are in also affects your earnings. In SE MO the starting wage is $26,000 and average wage is $35,499. We get our info from MERIC which is our source for the area. There is also http://online.onetcenter.org website that is great to use.