You’ve spent enough time trudging through the week in go-nowhere jobs and are ready to make a change to something that provides both stability and rewarding, meaningful work. That criteria makes the healthcare field seem like a natural fit, and the role of a radiologic technologist has caught your eye.
These often behind-the-scenes medical professionals aren’t always at the top of the public’s mind when it comes to healthcare careers. While you’ve done enough digging to have piqued your interest in this career, you still have some pretty important questions to get to the bottom of: What does a radiologic technologist do? What skills or qualities do they need? How much do radiologic technologists make? Or even just wondering How to Become a Radiologic Technologist.
Before you set off pursuing this exciting new career path, you need a little more information. And lucky for you, we have the answers to many of your questions and more. Read on for a closer look at the crucial role of a radiologic technologist.
What is a radiologic technologist, anyway?
If you’ve ever broken a bone or had an ultrasound, you were likely helped by a radiologic technologist. Radiologic technologists use X-rays, sound waves and other tools of diagnostic imagery to create images of internal organs, bones and tissues.
Sometimes referred to as radiographers or radiology techs, these professionals use several types of equipment to gather images that help physicians diagnose patient ailments and determine the best course of action for treatment. Most radiologic techs are experts in X-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Some may choose to specialize in other diagnostic imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET).
In order to gain a better understanding of what a radiologic technologist does, it’s important to understand what they don’t do as well. Keep reading to debunk some common myths.
Common misconceptions about radiologic technologists
There are a lot of myths about this rewarding radiology career. You can safely ignore these common assumptions about radiologic technologists. They simply aren’t true!
- All they do is take X-rays: Many people associate radiologic technologists with X-rays. While some may require additional training, these medical professionals actually have a wide range of specialties to choose from, including sonography, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging.
- Radiologic technologists and technicians are the same: These commonly confused radiology careers actually come with different duties and responsibilities. Radiologic technicians are primarily concerned with prepping equipment and patients for imaging procedures. Radiologic technologists, on the other hand, have a broader scope of work—such as assisting physicians as they perform procedures or administering therapeutic doses of radiation, among other duties.
- A radiologic technologist’s job ends after capturing the image they need: Though radiologic techs are responsible for taking x-rays or performing MRIs, their involvement doesn’t stop there. They ensure the quality of the images captured, maintain imaging equipment and assist physicians as they make their diagnosis.
What are the job duties of a radiologic technologist?
Now that you know what radiologic technologists don’t do, it’s time to learn about their daily job duties and their role in the medical community. Radiologic technologists are skilled equipment operators who know exactly how to capture the images they need and how to shield patients from harmful radiation in the process.
As mentioned above, their job doesn’t end after the X-ray, CT scan or MRI is complete. Radiologic techs then put those images to work to help support physicians in determining a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Here are some of the daily job duties a radiologic technologist might encounter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):1
- Maintaining and operating imaging equipment
- Preparing patients for imaging procedures
- Following precise instructions about the areas needing imaging to obtain a quality image
- Operating computerized equipment to capture images
- Working with physicians to evaluate images and determine if more are needed
Radiologic technologists play an important role in patient care and in the healthcare community as a whole. “Whether producing an X-ray image to detect a broken bone or delivering radiation therapy to destroy a cancerous tumor, radiologic technologists provide the care that leads to diagnosis, treatment and cure,” according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).
Physicians rely on the imagery obtained through CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, mammograms, sonograms and other imaging technologies to accurately diagnose and treat their patients. None of this would be possible without the work of radiologic technologists.
Where do radiologic technologists work?
You’re probably curious where radiologic technologists work. Most (57 percent) are employed in hospitals, according to the BLS.1 But that’s not the only place their skills are needed. If you can’t picture yourself working in a bustling hospital, there are still plenty of options for starting your radiologic technologist career.
Physicians’ offices and clinics are also frequent employers of radiologic technologists. Other facilities that hire these specialists include nursing homes, outpatient care centers and stand-alone facilities that specialize in diagnostic imaging. Regardless of the setting, these professionals are always required to wear specialized equipment to protect them from harmful effects of radiation.
The BLS states that most radiologic techs work full time. Some who are employed in hospitals are required to work outside of traditional business hours, including nights, weekends and holiday shifts. Those working in a clinic setting can expect a more standard work schedule.
Important skills for radiologic technologists
It may sound intimidating to work with radiation and specialized imaging equipment, but radiologic techs need plenty of soft skills, too. With the right education and training, you can gain all the expertise you need to excel in this rewarding healthcare career.
We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 55,000 radiologic technologist job postings from the past year.2 This data helped us identify the top skills employers are seeking in candidates.
Top technical skills for radiologic techs:2
- X-rays/radiography equipment
- Patient care
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Quality assurance and control
- Mammography
- Life support
- Radiation protection
- Ultrasound
- Patient preparation
- Patient education and instruction
Top transferable skills for radiologic techs:2
- Communication
- Research
- Teamwork/collaboration
- Relationship building
- Computer literacy
- Physical abilities
- Organization
- Problem solving
- Writing
- Attention to detail
If you can relate to the transferable skills listed above, you might be naturally inclined to find success as a radiologic technologist. All that’s missing are the technical skills needed to perform the job duties, which can be acquired through a Radiologic Technology degree program.
Radiologic technologist career outlook
If you’re excited about the prospect of pursuing this profession, you’re likely curious about some important career details.
Earning potential can fluctuate depending on the type of facility in which you’re employed. Compensation tends to be highest for radiologic techs working in outpatient care centers.1
The BLS reports that employment of radiologic technologists is projected to increase 9 percent through 2030, which is faster than the national average for all occupations.1 This growth can be attributed to the aging Baby-Boomer population requiring more diagnostic imaging procedures.
Interested in becoming a radiologic technologist?
Now you know what a radiologic technologist does and what it takes to become one. Does this description have you thinking this could be the career change you’ve been seeking?
Related Articles:
- What They Don't Tell You in the Radiologic Technologist Job Description
- Radiologist vs. Radiologic Technologist: Illuminating the Differences
- What Healthcare Workers Need to Know About Radiation Effects
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed October, 2021] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
2Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 55,800 radiologic technologist job postings, Oct. 01, 2020 – Sept. 31, 2021).
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2021.
