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Nuclear medicine technologist salary in California

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$162,380median pay per year in California, or $78.07 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $122,760lowest 10% earn less
  2. $136,82025th percentile
  3. $162,380median
  4. $178,19075th percentile
  5. $200,990top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $101,370[3]

The median pay for nuclear medicine technologists in California was $162,380 a year in May 2025[1]. That was the highest of any state with a published median[5].

Jobs in CA
1,500[4]
Rank by median pay
1 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
+60.2%[6]

How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in California?

Half of the nuclear medicine technologists in California earned more than $162,380 a year, and half earned less[1]. That is $78.07 an hour[1]. The average was $160,110[7]. Across the US, the median for this job was $101,370[3], so California sat 60.2% above it[6]. The state ranked 1st out of the 48 states and DC with a published median[5].

Against all jobs in California, the gap was large. The median for all occupations in the state was $58,240[8], and nuclear medicine technologists were $104,140 above it[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $122,760, while the highest-paid 10% earned more than $200,990[2]. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $198,950[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont was at $189,790 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at $156,410[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for nuclear medicine technologists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$162,380[1]$101,370[3]
Median per hour$78.07[1]$48.74[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$122,760[2]$78,080[13]
Top 10% earn more than$200,990[2]$134,500[13]
Jobs1,500[4]17,080[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for nuclear medicine technologists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$156,410460
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$189,790170
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$150,870160
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$173,260130
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$162,380110
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$198,950100
Fresno, CA$163,38050
Modesto, CA$172,53030

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for nuclear medicine technologists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$122,100180
Nevada$109,150120
Arizona$100,130430

Median pay for nuclear medicine technologists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for nuclear medicine technologists are projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make in California?
The median was $162,380 a year in May 2025, and the average was $160,110[1][7].
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $78.07[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $59.02 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $96.63[17]. The 10% shares come from the percentile meaning[2].
Which city in California pays nuclear medicine technologists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $198,950 a year[10].
Is California a good state for nuclear medicine technologists?
California ranked 1st of 48 states and DC by median pay for this job[5]. Its median was 60.2% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a nuclear medicine technologist in California?
This is a US figure, not a state one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is an associate's degree[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California was $162,380 per year and $78.07 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California: 10th percentile $122,760, 25th percentile $136,820, 75th percentile $178,190, 90th percentile $200,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the US as a whole was $101,370 per year and $48.74 per hour, with about 17,080 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,500 people worked as Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists out of the 48 states and DC with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California ($162,380) was $61,010 (60.2%) higher than the US median ($101,370). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California was $160,110 per year and $76.98 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California was $104,140 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 8 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Nuclear Medicine Technologists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $198,950. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the US: 10th percentile $78,080, 25th percentile $86,720, 75th percentile $117,120, 90th percentile $134,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $122,100; Nevada $109,150; Arizona $100,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Nuclear Medicine Technologists is projected to grow 4.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in California: 10th percentile $59.02, 25th percentile $65.78, 75th percentile $85.67, 90th percentile $96.63. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.