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Major · Science Technologies

A catch-all for specialized radiologic technician training — a vanishingly small associate's track

Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians, Other is a residual CIP category for radiologic-technology programs that do not fit the standard subcategories. About 13 degrees are awarded annually across just 2 colleges. Completers report five-year median earnings around $96,902.

Schools offering
2
Annual completions
13
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$97k

About this major

Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians, Other is the CIP system's residual category — any program in nuclear or industrial radiologic technologies that does not fit the standard subcategories above it. In practice, this means it captures a small number of programs that have chosen to position their offering outside the main Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician and Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician classifications, often because they combine content across both or take a specialty angle the standard codes do not accommodate. The underlying work is the same family: applying scientific principles and technical skills to radiation-based equipment used in industrial inspection, nuclear operations, or related monitoring.

The footprint is extremely narrow. About 13 degrees are awarded annually across just 2 colleges, with Northern New Mexico College accounting for essentially all volume — 12 associate's completions per year — and National American University-Rapid City showing 1 bachelor's completion. For most students exploring the radiologic-technician career path, the related and more widely offered majors are a better starting point: Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician has 29 annual completions across 5 colleges, and Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician has 56 annual completions across 9 colleges, both leading to the same occupational landscape.

The career destination in the data is nuclear technicians, which posts a $104,240 median wage and lists an associate's degree as typical education. Projected employment change is -7.7%, reflecting the slow contraction of nuclear power generation and automation in some industrial inspection work. Completers report five-year median earnings around $96,902 — unusually strong for an associate's credential and a reflection of how well the remaining roles pay. Graduates typically supplement the degree with industry certifications (ASNT NDT levels, for example) to broaden their reach into oil and gas, aerospace, and heavy-manufacturing inspection work.

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
Nuclear technicians $104k -7.7% 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

$97k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you live near Northern New Mexico College or another specific program in this category and the local curriculum matches a particular specialty you want; you are drawn to radiation-based industrial inspection work and comfortable with strict safety procedures around ionizing sources; you value the $96,902 five-year median earnings and the associate's-level time commitment; you are prepared to layer on industry certifications that expand your inspection methods beyond what any one program teaches; and you see the geographic concentration of this credential as an advantage rather than a constraint.

Think twice if you are not already near one of the 2 programs — this is not a credential worth relocating for when Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician and Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician are more broadly available and produce the same nuclear technician job outcome; think twice if the -7.7% projected employment change in nuclear technicians worries you and you are not planning to cross-train into adjacent nondestructive-testing work; and think twice if your actual target career is in a non-radiation technician role, because this residual category offers narrower employer recognition than the standard subcategory codes.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians, Other

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

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Northern New Mexico College Espanola, NM 12 0 12
National American University-Rapid City Rapid City, SD 0 1 1
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

974 completions/yr

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other

733 completions/yr

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other

105 completions/yr

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other

61 completions/yr

Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician

56 completions/yr

Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician

29 completions/yr

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other

25 completions/yr

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Other

12 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What is this major, exactly?
The CIP defines this as any instructional program in nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies not already listed under the standard subcategories — essentially a residual bucket for programs that sit outside the main Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician and Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician classifications. The training still centers on applying scientific principles to radiation-based industrial or nuclear equipment, but the specific content varies by institution.
Which colleges offer it?
Only 2 institutions currently report completions in this category. Northern New Mexico College accounts for nearly all volume with 12 annual associate's completions, and National American University-Rapid City shows 1 bachelor's completion. That distribution tells the story: this is effectively a single-program footprint, and transferring to or replicating the training outside that institution is not practical.
What jobs do graduates take?
The occupational destination in the data is nuclear technicians, with a $104,240 median wage and an associate's-degree typical-education requirement. In practice, graduates of programs in this residual category end up in similar roles to the standard Industrial Radiologic Technology track — nondestructive testing, industrial inspection, and radiation monitoring — with the specific employer mix shaped by where the program sits geographically and what specialties it has built.
Should I pick this over the standard industrial radiologic or nuclear power programs?
For most students, no. With only 2 programs and 13 annual completions, the 'Other' category is a geographic and curricular accident — if you are not already near Northern New Mexico College, the similar but more broadly offered majors are the better starting point. Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician has 29 annual completions across 5 colleges, and Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician has 56 annual completions across 9 colleges. Both lead to the same $104,240 nuclear technician occupation.
What do the earnings and outlook look like?
Five-year median earnings run about $96,902 for completers — strong for an associate's credential. The nuclear technicians occupation itself shows a $104,240 median but a -7.7% projected employment change, which reflects the slow contraction of US nuclear power and the automation of some industrial inspection. Graduates who build out certifications in nondestructive testing methods typically have a wider job picture than the raw projection suggests.