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National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Associate's degree
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Nuclear medicine technologists work in a specialized health care field that combines science, technology, and patient interaction. Nationally, there are about 20,000 people in this occupation, with a projected employment growth rate of 3.0%. Around 1,000 openings are expected each year, which reflects both new positions and turnover in existing roles. The national median annual salary of $97,020 places this career in a strong earning range, with some states and metro areas offering significantly higher pay. The role suits people who are detail oriented, comfortable with science, mathematics, and computers, and who can work closely with patients using strong interpersonal and customer service skills. It also favors those with good fine motor abilities, mechanical aptitude, and solid problem solving and decision making skills. For individuals interested in a technically focused health care career that typically requires an associate’s degree, nuclear medicine technology offers a defined pathway with measurable opportunities across the country.
Nuclear medicine technologists have a national median annual salary of $97,020, indicating strong earning potential in this field. Pay can vary considerably by location. Among the top states, California stands out with a median salary of $162,380, notably higher than the national median. Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado also offer median salaries above $110,000, with figures ranging from $116,990 in Colorado to $126,200 in Washington. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area reports a median of $198,950, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro reports $189,790. Other high-paying metros include New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $125,340 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $123,450. These patterns suggest that geographic choices can make a substantial difference in earnings for qualified technologists.
The employment outlook for nuclear medicine technologists is steady, with national employment at 20,000 and a projected growth rate of 3.0%. This growth indicates that the field is expected to add jobs over time rather than contract. There are about 1,000 annual openings, which include both new positions created by growth and openings from people leaving the occupation. States such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all show the same 3.0% projected growth rate, aligning with the national projection. Major metro areas highlighted for this career, including San Jose, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Boston, also reflect the 3.0% growth rate. For job seekers and career changers, these figures point to an occupation with ongoing hiring activity and consistent demand across multiple regions, providing a range of options for entering or advancing within the field.
Location can significantly shape opportunities for nuclear medicine technologists. Among states, California has a high median salary of $162,380 and the largest listed employment level at 1,500, with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York both combine six-figure median salaries (about $118,000 to $119,000) with opportunity scores above 65, while Washington and Colorado also offer six-figure pay and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. All of these states share a projected growth rate of 3.0%. At the metro level, differences become even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA shows a median salary of $198,950 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro follows closely with an opportunity score of 77.27 and median pay of $125,340. San Francisco, Washington DC, and Boston metros also combine strong salaries with opportunity scores above 60, giving candidates multiple geographic choices with attractive overall conditions.
Nuclear medicine technologists typically enter the field with an associate’s degree, offering a defined and relatively streamlined educational pathway compared with many other health professions that require longer study. Success in this occupation relies on a specific mix of technical and interpersonal abilities. Science and mathematics skills support the more analytical aspects of the work, while comfort with computers and information technology is key for operating specialized systems. Being detail oriented and possessing fine motor skills help with precision-driven tasks, and mechanical aptitude supports working with equipment. Interpersonal and customer service skills are important for interacting with patients and colleagues, and adaptability helps technologists respond to varied situations. Problem solving and decision making round out the skill profile, enabling technologists to handle complex scenarios within their scope of practice. Together, the associate’s degree requirement and this skill set make the career accessible to those ready for focused, applied training in a technical health role.
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