A Career As a Radiology Technician

If you are one of those who have a desire to help4. MRI Technician
patients and think you are capable of providing service5. Mammography Technician
to those who needs radiology tests, you may choose6. Etho-cardiographer
a career as a Radiologist Technician. A radiology7. Bone Densitometrist
technician is a crucial part of most radiologicalJob Outlook
procedures and plays a very important role in takingToday if we carefully look at the scope of this
X-rays and performing other examinations for patientsoccupation then it can be counted among few those
in order to determine their health. Working as aprofessions in the United States whose demand is
radiology technician, you may require dealing directlygoing to boom at a double rate in next few years. The
with the patient and operate the machinery thatemployment is projected to grow faster than average,
generally generates the medical images needed by theand job opportunities are expected to be more
doctor.favorable. In fact, the employment of radiology
As a radiology technician you are one of those fewtechnologists is expected to increase by about 15
important persons who are responsible for maintainingpercent from 2006 to 2016, which is definitely faster
the patients' safety with the machinery you use tothan the average for all occupations. In next few
conduct tests. In addition to running these tests, youyears, radiology technologists are willing to gain major
are also accountable for updating patient records andbenefits and those who also are experienced in more
conducting associated clerical duties includingthan one diagnostic imaging procedure like CT, MR,
maintaining paperwork relevant to the office machineryand mammography will enjoy the best job
you generally use for patient testing. Besides this, youopportunities.
may also require to prepare work schedules, evaluateThough hospitals will continue to be the principal
purchases of equipment and at times manage theworking location for most of the radiology
entire radiology department.technologists, but new jobs will also rise in medical
Career Prospectcenters, health clinics and diagnostic imaging centers.
In many states of the United States radiologyHealth facilities like these are expected to grow
technologists and technicians are referred to asthrough 2016, because of the shift toward outpatient
radiographers. The major highlight of choosing thiscare and technological advances that permit more
career is that once you become a radiology technicianprocedures to be performed outside the hospital.
you actually become eligible for holding differentGreat Salary
positions. With experience and gaining more training,In terms of salary you can be confident enough that
you may also become radiology specialists, performingafter you find employment as a radiology technologist
CT scanning, angiography, and magnetic resonancethe salary will be a good one. In the United States as
imaging. As an experienced technologist, you canof February 2009, the expected salary for a radiology
further attain positions like supervisor, chief radiologytechnician is balanced right at about $46,500 per year.
technologist and ultimately radiology departmentThe low end of that spectrum starts at about $42,000
administrator or director. In addition to this, the careerper year, but you may anticipate seeing upwards in
even let you do specialization in Magnetic Resonancesalary margin per year. Starting salaries for
Imaging, CT scans and Angiography. It even offersradiographers can start at $30-$35k per year and
you with options to branch out into one of theseextend to upwards of $55k per year for those who
exciting jobs like:specialize in CT, MRI and special procedures.
Overall, a career in radiology will offer students a
1. Radiation Therapistdiverse field of specialties that they can pursue. It's not
2. Ultrasound Technicianonly an interesting career, but a rewarding one as well.
3. Nuclear Medicine