How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make?
The median nuclear medicine technologist in the United States earns $101,370 per year, about $48.74 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all nuclear medicine technologists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-2033.
Nuclear medicine technologist salary range
Pay for nuclear medicine technologists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $78,080 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $134,500. The average (mean) wage of $105,160 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,080 | $37.54 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $86,720 | $41.69 | |
| Median (50th) | $101,370 | $48.74 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $117,120 | $56.31 | |
| 90th percentile | $134,500 | $64.66 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for nuclear medicine technologists (SOC 29-2033), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Nuclear medicine technologist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Nuclear medicine technologists earn the most in California at $162,380 a year, and the least in Kansas at $64,610. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $162,380 | 1,500 |
| Washington | $126,200 | 320 |
| Hawaii | $125,650 | 30 |
| New Jersey | $124,280 | 540 |
| Oregon | $122,100 | 180 |
| New York | $118,650 | 890 |
| Massachusetts | $118,250 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $117,150 | 170 |
| Colorado | $116,990 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $116,630 | 30 |
| Utah | $111,770 | 120 |
| Nevada | $109,150 | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $107,890 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $107,380 | 200 |
| Illinois | $104,950 | 620 |
| Idaho | $104,630 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $104,320 | 120 |
| Maryland | $104,150 | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | 110 |
| Indiana | $103,230 | 280 |
| North Dakota | $102,640 | 50 |
| Virginia | $101,820 | 430 |
| Texas | $101,170 | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $100,880 | 540 |
| Montana | $100,490 | 50 |
| Delaware | $100,470 | 70 |
| Arizona | $100,130 | 430 |
| Maine | $99,500 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $98,450 | 390 |
| New Mexico | $98,400 | 70 |
| Missouri | $98,010 | 360 |
| Ohio | $97,570 | 670 |
| Florida | $97,310 | 1,740 |
| Kentucky | $95,470 | 270 |
| Michigan | $95,400 | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,570 | 740 |
| Iowa | $92,890 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $90,640 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $90,230 | 280 |
| Louisiana | $87,670 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $85,240 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $84,470 | 390 |
| Arkansas | $83,670 | 190 |
| Mississippi | $83,340 | 160 |
| Alabama | $82,630 | 320 |
| South Dakota | $82,010 | 140 |
| Wyoming | $81,900 | 40 |
| West Virginia | $76,460 | 150 |
| Kansas | $64,610 | 380 |
State median wages for nuclear medicine technologists (SOC 29-2033), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for nuclear medicine technologists
The BLS projects employment of nuclear medicine technologists to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 17,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 18,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 800 openings a year for nuclear medicine technologists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a nuclear medicine technologist
The typical entry-level education for nuclear medicine technologists is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a nuclear medicine technologist earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $162,380) and the lowest (Kansas, $64,610) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 17,080 people work as nuclear medicine technologists in the United States. At $101,370 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Nuclear medicine technologist salary FAQ
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a nuclear medicine technologist is $48.74. The middle half of nuclear medicine technologists earn between $41.69 and $56.31 per hour.
What is the highest nuclear medicine technologist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of nuclear medicine technologists earn more than $134,500 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make a year?
The median annual salary for a nuclear medicine technologist is $101,370. The average (mean) wage of $105,160 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a nuclear medicine technologist a well paid job?
At $101,370 a year, a nuclear medicine technologist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 17,080 people work as nuclear medicine technologists in the United States.
Which state pays nuclear medicine technologists the most?
California has the highest median salary for nuclear medicine technologists at $162,380 a year. Washington ($126,200) and Hawaii ($125,650) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a nuclear medicine technologist a good career?
Employment of nuclear medicine technologists is projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a nuclear medicine technologist?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for nuclear medicine technologists as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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