Career comparison
Nuclear Medicine Technologist vs. Radiologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Radiologists earn more at the median ($420,860 vs. $101,370), 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. Radiologists read X-rays, CT and MRI scans to diagnose disease.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $101,370 ($48.74/hr) | $420,860 ($202.34/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $78,080 – $134,500 | $89,010 – $594,410 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.4% (about as fast as average) | +3.4% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 700 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 13 years after high school |
| Key credential | CNMT (NMTCB) | ABR board certification |
| Work setting | Technologists work in hospitals and imaging centers.. | Radiologists work in hospital reading rooms, imaging centers and from home through teleradiology.. |
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
Radiologist
- Interpret medical images
- Diagnose disease and injuries
- Consult with other physicians
- Perform image-guided procedures
- Supervise imaging protocols
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay and indoor work. 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 radiologist if…
- I’m visual and analytical
- I like technology
- I want remote work options
Still torn? Take the Nuclear Medicine Technologist fit quiz and the Radiologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nuclear medicine technologist or radiologist?
Radiologists earn more at the median: $420,860 versus $101,370 for nuclear medicine technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Nuclear Medicine Technologists typically train faster (2–4 years) than radiologists (13 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nuclear medicine technologists to grow +4.4% from 2025–35, compared with +3.4% for radiologists.