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Major · Health Professions

The degree behind reading X-rays and producing diagnostic images

Radiologic Technology prepares students to operate imaging equipment — X-ray, fluoroscopy, and related modalities — under physician supervision in clinical settings. About 9,572 degrees are awarded annually across 490 colleges, most at the associate's level, with a direct pipeline into a licensed, in-demand healthcare role.

Schools offering
490
Annual completions
9,572
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$67k

About this major

Radiologic Technology as a formal major prepares students to produce diagnostic images using ionizing radiation — primarily X-ray — under the supervision of physicians. The curriculum, as described in the CIP definition, covers applied anatomy and physiology, patient positioning, radiographic technique, radiation biology, safety and emergency procedures, equipment operation, quality assurance, and patient education. This is a technically specific program with a defined credential endpoint: graduates must pass the ARRT examination to practice, and virtually all ARRT-eligible programs are accredited by JRCERT. That accreditation chain matters more here than in most fields — a non-accredited program can leave graduates ineligible to sit for the exam and, by extension, ineligible to work.

The major sits at the associate's and bachelor's level, with most completions occurring at the two-year level. About 9,572 degrees are awarded annually across 490 colleges, making this a mid-sized healthcare training pipeline by volume. The top schools by completions skew toward career-focused institutions: Keiser University leads with 373 annual completions, all at the associate's level; Weber State University follows with 256 total, split between associate's and bachelor's programs. The presence of institutions like Pima Medical Institute and Gurnick Academy reflects the prevalence of for-profit and career-college delivery in this field — a pattern worth noting when evaluating programs, since graduation rates, ARRT pass rates, and employment outcomes vary considerably across the sector.

The primary career destination is radiologic technologist and technician, with a median wage of $77,660 and a 4.3% projected job growth rate. The work happens in hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, and physicians' offices — a clinical setting throughout, not an office or laboratory. It is a patient-facing role from day one, which is either a draw or a constraint depending on the individual.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $106k +17.3% Doctoral or professional degree
Radiologic technologists and technicians $78k +4.3% Associate's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$67k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$65k

Bachelor's

$71k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are drawn to the clinical side of healthcare but want a defined technical specialty rather than a broad clinical role. Radiologic technology is not nursing or general allied health — it is a focused modality, and the day-to-day work involves operating specific equipment, positioning patients, and producing images that physicians use for diagnosis. If the idea of a measurable, repeatable technical skill with real patient impact sounds like what you want from a healthcare career, this program is structured to deliver it. The associate's-level option is particularly relevant if you want to enter the workforce within two years with a credential that translates directly to a licensed job paying $77,660 at the median.

Think twice if you expect the bachelor's degree to meaningfully change your career trajectory out of the gate — the earnings gap between associate's and bachelor's completers at five years is about $5,400, and the primary occupation's typical education is listed as an associate's degree. The bachelor's can matter later for supervisory advancement or if you want to add cross-training in advanced modalities, but it is not the differentiator here that a four-year degree represents in fields like engineering or computer science. Think twice also if you are choosing between this and Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Radiation Therapy based on vague interest in imaging — those programs lead to genuinely different roles, and clarity on which modality you want to work with before enrolling will save you from a mismatch later. And think carefully about program accreditation status: graduating from a JRCERT-accredited program is effectively a prerequisite for employment in this field, and any program that is not JRCERT-accredited deserves serious scrutiny before you commit.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL 373 0 373
Weber State University Ogden, UT 170 86 256
Pima Medical Institute-Tucson Tucson, AZ 139 70 209
The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest Houston, TX 127 0 127
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts San Jose, CA 109 0 109
Boise State University Boise, ID 0 96 96
Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, TX 0 96 96
San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX 85 0 85
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA 0 81 81
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences South Bend, IN 36 45 81
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

6,344 completions/yr

Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician

5,766 completions/yr

Surgical Technology/Technologist

5,490 completions/yr

Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)

3,988 completions/yr

Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist

3,612 completions/yr

Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist

1,133 completions/yr

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other

869 completions/yr

Athletic Training/Trainer

812 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Radiologic Technology majors actually study day-to-day?
Coursework covers applied anatomy and physiology, patient positioning, radiographic technique, radiation biology, and safety protocols — plus equipment operation, quality assurance, and patient education. Clinical rotations are central to the program; students spend significant time in hospital and outpatient imaging departments performing supervised procedures on real patients. This is a heavily hands-on curriculum from early on, not primarily a lecture-and-exam track.
Do I need a bachelor's, or is an associate's enough for Radiologic Technology?
An associate's degree is the standard entry credential for radiologic technologist roles — the BLS lists an associate's as typical education for the occupation, and the median wage for radiologic technologists sits at $77,660 regardless of degree level. Five-year earnings data shows associate's completers averaging about $65,449 versus $70,854 for bachelor's completers — a gap of roughly $5,400, noticeably narrower than in most fields. A bachelor's degree can open doors to supervisory roles, advanced imaging modalities (MRI, CT, mammography), and BS-completion programs if you want to advance after working for a few years.
What kinds of jobs do Radiologic Technology graduates end up in?
The primary destination is radiologic technologist and technician, with a median wage of $77,660 and 4.3% projected job growth. Most graduates work in hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, and physicians' offices. The data also shows a small share moving into health specialties teaching at the postsecondary level ($105,620 median, 17.3% growth), though that path requires a doctoral or professional degree well beyond this program. The realistic near-term job for most graduates is clinical radiologic technologist, not a teaching or management role.
How hard is it to find a job after this program?
The radiologic technologist occupation projects 4.3% job growth over the next decade — roughly in line with average for all occupations. Healthcare demand for diagnostic imaging is steady rather than explosive, driven by an aging population and expanding outpatient imaging networks. The key credential here is licensure: graduates must pass the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) examination to practice, and programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) are the standard pathway to that exam. Graduating from a non-accredited program can close the licensure door.
Is Radiologic Technology the right fit, or should I consider a related program?
Radiologic Technology is specifically X-ray and general radiography. If ultrasound interests you more, Diagnostic Medical Sonography produces about 5,766 completions per year and leads to the sonographer role. If you want to use radiation therapeutically rather than diagnostically, Radiation Therapy (about 3,612 completions) is a closely related CIP and reaches higher median wages. Respiratory Care Therapy (about 6,344 completions) is another allied health alternative if you prefer a different patient care context. The career destinations across these programs are distinct — the right choice depends on which imaging modality or patient care role you actually want to work in.
What's a realistic earnings picture after a Radiologic Technology degree?
Five-year median earnings for this major run about $67,139 across degree levels, with associate's completers at $65,449 and bachelor's completers at $70,854. The radiologic technologist occupation itself posts a $77,660 median wage — the gap between that and the five-year earnings figure reflects some graduates still building experience at that mark. The earnings ceiling in this field without additional credentials or specialization is relatively defined; the occupation is well-compensated for a two-year degree but does not follow the same steep upward trajectory as fields where advanced degrees drive significant salary jumps. Advanced modality certifications (MRI, CT, mammography) can improve earning power.