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Nuclear medicine technologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$101,370median pay per year, or $48.74 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $78,080lowest 10% earn less
  2. $86,72025th percentile
  3. $101,370median
  4. $117,12075th percentile
  5. $134,500top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for a nuclear medicine technologist was $101,370 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects 4.4% job growth from 2025 to 2035, a little above the rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.4%[2]
Openings per year
800[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[7]

How much do nuclear medicine technologists make?

The median wage was $101,370 a year, or $48.74 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $105,160 a year, or $50.56 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,080 a year, and the 25th percentile was $86,720[4]. The 75th percentile was $117,120 and the 90th percentile was $134,500[4]. A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Point Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $78,080
25th percentile[4] $86,720
Median[1] $101,370
75th percentile[4] $117,120
90th percentile[4] $134,500

Hourly, the 10th percentile was $37.54 and the 90th percentile was $64.66[10]. These wages cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 17,080 people held these jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $162,380, followed by Washington at $126,200 and Hawaii at $125,650[13]. New Jersey was fourth at $124,280[13]. Kansas had the lowest published median at $64,610[13].

Florida had the most jobs at 1,740, then California at 1,500 and Texas at 1,060[14]. New York had 890 and Pennsylvania had 740[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $198,950[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont followed at $189,790, then Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom at $173,260[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 940, with a median of $125,340[16]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had 480 jobs[16].

Show median pay in 48 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[13]$162,3801,500
Washington$126,200320
Hawaii$125,65030
New Jersey$124,280540
Oregon$122,100180
New York$118,650890
Massachusetts$118,250380
Connecticut$117,150170
Colorado$116,990200
District of Columbia$116,63030
Utah$111,770120
Nevada$109,150120
New Hampshire$107,89060
Minnesota$107,380200
Illinois$104,950620
Idaho$104,63080
Nebraska$104,320120
Maryland$104,150330
Rhode Island$104,000110
Indiana$103,230280
North Dakota$102,64050
Virginia$101,820430
Texas$101,1701,060
Georgia$100,880540
Montana$100,49050
Delaware$100,47070
Arizona$100,130430
Maine$99,50070
Wisconsin$98,450390
New Mexico$98,40070
Missouri$98,010360
Ohio$97,570670
Florida$97,3101,740
Kentucky$95,470270
Michigan$95,400640
Pennsylvania$94,570740
Iowa$92,890150
Oklahoma$90,640200
South Carolina$90,230280
Louisiana$87,670170
North Carolina$85,240600
Tennessee$84,470390
Arkansas$83,670190
Mississippi$83,340160
Alabama$82,630320
South Dakota$82,010140
Wyoming$81,90040
West Virginia$76,460150
Kansas$64,610380

How to become a nuclear medicine technologist

Graduating from an accredited program may be required for licensure or by an employer[22]. Technologists may also earn specialty certifications and may need basic life support or CPR certifications[23][24]. High school students can prepare with math and science courses such as biology, chemistry, anatomy and physics[25].

In an ONET survey of 46 workers, 63% said an associate's degree was required, 22% said a bachelor's degree and 6% said a post-baccalaureate certificate[26]. This is a small survey. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[27].

What nuclear medicine technologists do

O*NET describes the work as preparing, giving and measuring radioactive isotopes used in treatment, diagnosis and tracer studies[28]. Typical tasks include:

The Handbook highlights comfort with technology, analytical skills and compassion[30][31][32]. Job titles reported by workers include nuclear cardiology technologist and PET-CT technologist[33].

Where they work

Hospitals were the largest employer group, at 71%[34]. Technologists stand for long periods and may lift or turn patients[35]. Radiation is a hazard, but gloves and shielding reduce it. Workers wear badges that measure exposure, and records track how much radiation they receive over a lifetime[36]. They may also be exposed to infectious diseases[37].

Most technologists work full time. Some have irregular schedules with evening or weekend shifts, and some are on call, especially in hospitals[38]. About 0.6% were self-employed in 2025[39].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,400 to 18,200 jobs, a gain of 800[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 800 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, and new jobs as well[6]. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 2% move to a different occupation[40].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want a healthcare role that needs an associate's degree rather than a longer degree[7]. Pay is about twice the all-occupations median[1][5], and growth is slightly above the all-occupations rate[2][3]. The job involves radiation safety routines[36], physical work on your feet[35] and sometimes irregular hours or on-call time[38]. Pay varies by place, from $162,380 in California to $64,610 in Kansas[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[41].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make an hour?
The median wage was $48.74 an hour, or $101,370 a year, in May 2025[1].
What degree do you need to be a nuclear medicine technologist?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Bachelor's degrees are also common[18].
Is nuclear medicine technologist in demand?
BLS projects 4.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 800 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for nuclear medicine technologists?
California, with a median of $162,380 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the US was $101,370 per year and $48.74 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Nuclear Medicine Technologists is projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 17,400 to 18,200 jobs (a change of +800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nuclear Medicine Technologists: 10th percentile $78,080, 25th percentile $86,720, 75th percentile $117,120, 90th percentile $134,500. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 800 openings for Nuclear Medicine Technologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Nuclear Medicine Technologists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists was $105,160 per year and $50.56 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nuclear Medicine Technologists: 10th percentile $37.54, 25th percentile $41.69, 75th percentile $56.31, 90th percentile $64.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 17,080 people were employed as Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Nuclear Medicine Technologists jobs: Florida 1,740; California 1,500; Texas 1,060; New York 890; Pennsylvania 740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $198,950; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $189,790; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $173,260; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $162,380; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $156,410; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $150,870; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $133,380; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $127,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Nuclear Medicine Technologists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 940 (median $125,340); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 480 (median $108,860); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 460 (median $156,410); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 410 (median $102,460); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 400 (median $99,810); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 320 (median $107,230). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET 29-2033.00 survey of workers (46 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 63%, Bachelor's Degree 22%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 29-2033.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET description of Nuclear Medicine Technologists. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Nuclear Medicine Technologists. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. O*NET 29-2033.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT), Nuclear Cardiology Technologist, Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Technologist (Nuclear Medicine Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography Technologist), Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT), Radiation Safety Officer, Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Staff Nuclear Medicine Technologist. O*NET OnLine
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of nuclear medicine technologists in 2025: Hospitals; state, local, and private 71%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  39. BLS Employment Projections: 0.6% of Nuclear Medicine Technologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  40. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Nuclear Medicine Technologists: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  41. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.