Career comparison
Nuclear Medicine Technologist vs. Radiologic Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Nuclear medicine technologists earn more at the median ($101,370 vs. $80,110), while nuclear medicine technologists usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Nuclear medicine technologists use radioactive tracers to image the body and help treat disease. Radiologic technologists take the X-rays and diagnostic images doctors use to find fractures, disease and injuries.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiologic Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $101,370 ($48.74/hr) | $80,110 ($38.52/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $78,080 – $134,500 | $55,980 – $118,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.4% (about as fast as average) | +5.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 13,000 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | CNMT (NMTCB) | ARRT Radiography (R) |
| Work setting | Technologists work in hospitals and imaging centers.. | Technologists work in hospital radiology departments, emergency departments, imaging centers and clinics. |
What each job does
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Prepare radioactive drugs
- Give tracers to patients
- Operate gamma cameras and PET scanners
- Position patients for imaging
- Follow radiation safety rules
Radiologic Technologist
- Review imaging orders and confirm patient identity
- Explain procedures and answer patient questions
- Position patients and equipment for the correct views
- Set exposure factors and capture diagnostic images
- Apply radiation protection for patients, staff and yourself
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, high-pay, indoor work, and helping others. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose nuclear medicine technologist if…
- I like science and technology
- I follow safety rules carefully
- I want a high-paying two-year career
Choose radiologic technologist if…
- I’m interested in anatomy and how the body works
- I like technology and equipment
- I can stay calm with patients in pain
Still torn? Take the Nuclear Medicine Technologist fit quiz and the Radiologic Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nuclear medicine technologist or radiologic technologist?
Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn more at the median: $101,370 versus $80,110 for radiologic technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Nuclear Medicine Technologists typically train faster (2–4 years) than radiologic technologists (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects radiologic technologists to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with +4.4% for nuclear medicine technologists.