29 Series · SOC 29-2033
Nuclear Medicine Technologists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $101,370
- Median / year
- $134,500
- Top 10% earn
- +3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 17,080
- US workers
Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn a median of $101,370 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $101,370, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $78,080 (10th percentile) to $134,500 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 17,080 US workers. California pays the most ($162,380), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn a median of $101,370, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 84% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #35 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2033.
- $101,370
- Median annual wage
- Top 16%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #35 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $162,380. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists (SOC 29-2033) pays a national median of $101,370 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $78,080 at the 10th percentile to $134,500 at the 90th, with a mean of $105,160 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 17,080 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 102 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $162,380, which is +60% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $198,950 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$101,370
per year
Median Hourly
$48.74/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$105,160
average
Employment
17,080
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Nuclear Medicine Technologists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$101,370 Top 16% higher than 84% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Nuclear Medicine Technologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Nuclear Medicine Technologists sits on the slower-growing side at +3% growth and $101,370 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Nuclear Medicine Technologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
- ▸ Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- ▸ Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- ▸ Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- ▸ Record and process results of procedures.
- ▸ Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
- ▸ Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
- ▸ Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
- ▸ Perform quality control checks on laboratory equipment or cameras.
- ▸ Dispose of radioactive materials and store radiopharmaceuticals, following radiation safety procedures.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$78,080
25th Percentile
$86,720
Median
$101,370
75th Percentile
$117,120
90th Percentile
$134,500
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $162,380 | +60% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $126,200 | +24% above national |
| 3 | Hawaii | $125,650 | +24% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $124,280 | +23% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $122,100 | +20% above national |
| 6 | New York | $118,650 | +17% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $118,250 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $117,150 | +16% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $116,990 | +15% above national |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $116,630 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Utah | $111,770 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Nevada | $109,150 | +8% above national |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $107,890 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Minnesota | $107,380 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Illinois | $104,950 | +4% above national |
| 16 | Idaho | $104,630 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Nebraska | $104,320 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Maryland | $104,150 | +3% above national |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $104,000 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Indiana | $103,230 | +2% above national |
| 21 | North Dakota | $102,640 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Virginia | $101,820 | same as national |
| 23 | Texas | $101,170 | same as national |
| 24 | Georgia | $100,880 | same as national |
| 25 | Montana | $100,490 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Delaware | $100,470 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Arizona | $100,130 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Maine | $99,500 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $98,450 | 3% below national |
| 30 | New Mexico | $98,400 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Missouri | $98,010 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Ohio | $97,570 | 4% below national |
| 33 | Florida | $97,310 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Kentucky | $95,470 | 6% below national |
| 35 | Michigan | $95,400 | 6% below national |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $94,570 | 7% below national |
| 37 | Iowa | $92,890 | 8% below national |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $90,640 | 11% below national |
| 39 | South Carolina | $90,230 | 11% below national |
| 40 | Louisiana | $87,670 | 14% below national |
| 41 | North Carolina | $85,240 | 16% below national |
| 42 | Tennessee | $84,470 | 17% below national |
| 43 | Arkansas | $83,670 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Mississippi | $83,340 | 18% below national |
| 45 | Alabama | $82,630 | 18% below national |
| 46 | South Dakota | $82,010 | 19% below national |
| 47 | Wyoming | $81,900 | 19% below national |
| 48 | West Virginia | $76,460 | 25% below national |
| 49 | Kansas | $64,610 | 36% below national |
| 50 | Puerto Rico | $52,930 | 48% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 102 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $198,950 | +96% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $189,790 | +87% above national |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $173,260 | +71% above national |
| 4 | Modesto, CA | $172,530 | +70% above national |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $163,380 | +61% above national |
| 6 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $162,380 | +60% above national |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $156,410 | +54% above national |
| 8 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $150,870 | +49% above national |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,380 | +32% above national |
| 10 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $128,560 | +27% above national |
| 11 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $127,010 | +25% above national |
| 12 | New Haven, CT | $125,980 | +24% above national |
| 13 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $125,340 | +24% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $123,450 | +22% above national |
| 15 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $118,110 | +17% above national |
| 16 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $115,230 | +14% above national |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $113,670 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Worcester, MA | $111,400 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $109,900 | +8% above national |
| 20 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $108,860 | +7% above national |
| 21 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $107,380 | +6% above national |
| 22 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $107,300 | +6% above national |
| 23 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $107,230 | +6% above national |
| 24 | Green Bay, WI | $106,370 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Omaha, NE-IA | $105,610 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $105,590 | +4% above national |
| 27 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $105,460 | +4% above national |
| 28 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $105,450 | +4% above national |
| 29 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $104,750 | +3% above national |
| 30 | Lincoln, NE | $104,320 | +3% above national |
| 31 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $104,180 | +3% above national |
| 32 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $104,000 | +3% above national |
| 33 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $103,900 | +2% above national |
| 34 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $103,730 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $103,510 | +2% above national |
| 36 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $103,270 | +2% above national |
| 37 | Boise City, ID | $102,690 | +1% above national |
| 38 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $102,460 | +1% above national |
| 39 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $102,170 | +1% above national |
| 40 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $101,630 | same as national |
| 41 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $101,150 | same as national |
| 42 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $101,120 | same as national |
| 43 | Rochester, NY | $100,930 | same as national |
| 44 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $100,700 | 1% below national |
| 45 | Jacksonville, FL | $100,640 | 1% below national |
| 46 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $100,610 | 1% below national |
| 47 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $100,130 | 1% below national |
| 48 | Springfield, MO | $100,090 | 1% below national |
| 49 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $100,060 | 1% below national |
| 50 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $100,060 | 1% below national |
| 51 | Madison, WI | $99,820 | 2% below national |
| 52 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,810 | 2% below national |
| 53 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $99,640 | 2% below national |
| 54 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $99,620 | 2% below national |
| 55 | Cleveland, OH | $99,400 | 2% below national |
| 56 | Tucson, AZ | $99,080 | 2% below national |
| 57 | Albuquerque, NM | $98,400 | 3% below national |
| 58 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $98,160 | 3% below national |
| 59 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $97,890 | 3% below national |
| 60 | Gainesville, FL | $97,470 | 4% below national |
| 61 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $97,370 | 4% below national |
| 62 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $97,370 | 4% below national |
| 63 | Tulsa, OK | $97,310 | 4% below national |
| 64 | Richmond, VA | $97,300 | 4% below national |
| 65 | Wilmington, NC | $96,620 | 5% below national |
| 66 | Toledo, OH | $96,150 | 5% below national |
| 67 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $96,050 | 5% below national |
| 68 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $95,470 | 6% below national |
| 69 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $95,250 | 6% below national |
| 70 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $95,140 | 6% below national |
| 71 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $94,810 | 6% below national |
| 72 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $94,500 | 7% below national |
| 73 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $93,490 | 8% below national |
| 74 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $92,670 | 9% below national |
| 75 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $92,630 | 9% below national |
| 76 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $91,950 | 9% below national |
| 77 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $91,490 | 10% below national |
| 78 | Winston-Salem, NC | $91,350 | 10% below national |
| 79 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $90,990 | 10% below national |
| 80 | Oklahoma City, OK | $90,640 | 11% below national |
| 81 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $90,460 | 11% below national |
| 82 | Jackson, MS | $89,270 | 12% below national |
| 83 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $89,200 | 12% below national |
| 84 | Columbia, SC | $87,480 | 14% below national |
| 85 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $87,380 | 14% below national |
| 86 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $87,170 | 14% below national |
| 87 | Flint, MI | $87,060 | 14% below national |
| 88 | Charleston, WV | $86,780 | 14% below national |
| 89 | Birmingham, AL | $85,700 | 15% below national |
| 90 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $85,100 | 16% below national |
| 91 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $84,700 | 16% below national |
| 92 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $84,470 | 17% below national |
| 93 | Huntsville, AL | $83,390 | 18% below national |
| 94 | Tallahassee, FL | $83,360 | 18% below national |
| 95 | Fayetteville, NC | $83,330 | 18% below national |
| 96 | Pittsburgh, PA | $82,830 | 18% below national |
| 97 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $82,770 | 18% below national |
| 98 | Knoxville, TN | $82,620 | 18% below national |
| 99 | Montgomery, AL | $82,620 | 18% below national |
| 100 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $65,110 | 36% below national |
| 101 | Wichita, KS | $64,610 | 36% below national |
| 102 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $52,480 | 48% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Nuclear Medicine Technologists make? ▼
What state pays Nuclear Medicine Technologists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Nuclear Medicine Technologists? ▼
Is Nuclear Medicine Technologists a good career? ▼
How does Nuclear Medicine Technologists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Nuclear Medicine Technologists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Nuclear Medicine Technologists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $117,120/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $162,380/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.