Radiologic Technologist Salary Guide 2026: US, Canada, and International
How to Read This Salary Guide
Salary figures are easy to misread. A median is the midpoint of reported wages, while a mean is an arithmetic average. Neither is a starting salary, a guaranteed offer, or a forecast for 2026. The official figures below retain the occupation and reference period used by each source.
Official Pay Snapshot
United States: $77,660 per year ($37.34 per hour), May 2024 median for radiologic technologists and technicians.
Canada: CAD $29.81 / $40.00 / $51.12 per hour, national low / median / high for medical radiation technologists, reference period 2023–2024.
NHS England: Band 5 £31,049–£37,796 and Band 6 £38,682–£46,580 on the 2025/26 Agenda for Change scale.
United States: National Median
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook reports a May 2024 median wage of $77,660 annually, or $37.34 hourly, for radiologic technologists and technicians. This figure covers SOC 29-2034 and should not be presented as “2026 BLS data.” Local offers can differ based on employer, duties, schedule, experience, and labor market.
The same BLS page groups radiologic and MRI technologists for career discussion but reports separate occupational wage medians. Check the occupation code before comparing figures.
United States: Highest State Mean Wages
The latest state ranking used here is from the BLS May 2023 estimates for radiologic technologists and technicians. These figures are statewide means, not ranges or medians, and they do not establish why one state pays more than another.
| Rank | State | Mean annual wage | Mean hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $103,150 | $49.59 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $93,270 | Not reproduced here |
| 3 | Hawaii | $92,170 | Not reproduced here |
| 4 | Oregon | $90,610 | Not reproduced here |
| 5 | Washington | $89,910 | Not reproduced here |
Higher nominal pay does not by itself mean greater purchasing power. Compare taxes, housing, commuting, benefits, and licensing costs rather than choosing a location from a wage ranking alone.
Related Imaging Occupations Are Not “Modality Premiums”
BLS does not publish a national CT, mammography, or interventional credential premium within SOC 29-2034. It does publish separate May 2024 medians for several related occupations:
| BLS occupation | May 2024 median annual wage | Comparison caution |
|---|---|---|
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $77,660 | Baseline occupation in this guide |
| MRI technologists | $88,180 | Separately classified occupation |
| Diagnostic medical sonographers | $89,340 | Different occupation and credential pathway |
| Nuclear medicine technologists | $97,020 | Different occupation and credential pathway |
| Radiation therapists | $101,990 | Different occupation and credential pathway |
Credential Reality Check
An additional ARRT credential can expand eligibility for particular roles, but it does not guarantee a raise. ARRT certification and registration requirements are distinct from state licensing, and licensing requirements vary by state. Confirm eligibility, local law, employer requirements, and the actual pay scale before investing in training.
Canada: Official Hourly Wages
Canada’s Job Bank reports low, median, and high hourly wages for medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121). The national and provincial figures below use a 2023–2024 reference period and are denominated in Canadian dollars. A Job Bank “high” is not a promised ceiling or a typical starting rate.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | CAD $29.81/hr | CAD $40.00/hr | CAD $51.12/hr |
| Alberta | CAD $36.00/hr | CAD $46.00/hr | CAD $53.00/hr |
| British Columbia | CAD $32.00/hr | CAD $42.00/hr | CAD $53.15/hr |
| Ontario | CAD $35.00/hr | CAD $45.00/hr | CAD $52.04/hr |
| Quebec | CAD $24.00/hr | CAD $35.00/hr | CAD $40.00/hr |
Do not multiply an hourly figure into an annual salary without stating assumed paid hours. Overtime, unpaid leave, part-time work, and local agreements can make that conversion misleading.
England: NHS Agenda for Change
NHS Employers lists these 2025/26 England Agenda for Change pay points. They are national pay-scale values, not a claim that every radiographer is appointed to a particular band.
| Band | Entry | Intermediate | Top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | £31,049 | £33,487 | £37,796 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 | £40,823 | £46,580 |
These values apply to England. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, private-sector roles, supplements, and local working arrangements require their own sources.
Australia and the Philippines
No official comparable national figure is presented here for Australia or the Philippines. The earlier job-board-style ranges and currency-conversion claims were not sufficiently supported or comparable to the dated government statistics above. A responsible international comparison needs an official source, a clearly matched occupation, a reference period, the statistic type, work-hours assumptions, and local currency. Nominal exchange-rate comparisons also do not measure purchasing power or migration costs.
How to Evaluate an Offer
- Match the occupation and duties. Do not treat the median for a separately classified occupation as an automatic premium for one extra credential.
- Match geography and date. A national May 2024 median and a state May 2023 mean answer different questions.
- Request the complete compensation terms. Compare base rate, guaranteed hours, overtime rules, differentials, benefits, retirement contributions, leave, and contract duration using the employer’s written terms.
- Check entry requirements. Verify ARRT eligibility, state licensing, employer requirements, and—when moving internationally—the destination regulator’s recognition process.
- Compare living costs and risk. Include housing, taxes, transport, insurance, credentialing, relocation, and any unpaid time between contracts.
Authoritative Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Radiologic and MRI Technologists
- BLS May 2023 state estimates — Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (29-2034)
- Government of Canada Job Bank — Medical Radiation Technologist wages
- NHS Employers — Pay scales for 2025/26
- ARRT — State licensing
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Test Your Source Literacy
Use the source labels and caveats in this guide. Click an option to check your answer.
The figure is a May 2024 national occupational median for SOC 29-2034, not a starting salary, forecast, or guaranteed offer.
Occupation, statistic type, geography, and date all affect whether two pay figures are comparable.
A credential can qualify someone for additional roles, but it does not guarantee a raise and does not replace state licensing requirements.