by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist covers Nuclear Medical Technology/technologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians, To Employ Radioactive And Stable Nuclides In Diagnostic Evaluations And Therapeutic Applications While Monitoring For Patient Health And Safety. Includes Instruction In Nuclear Physics, Health Physics, Instrumentation And Statistics, Biochemistry, Immunology, Radiopharmacology, Radiation Biology, Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Radionuclide Therapy, Computer Applications, Safety Regulations, Equipment Operation, Quality Control, Laboratory Procedures, Taking Patient Histories, Patient Evaluation And Monitoring, Emergency First Aid, Administration And Record-Keeping, And Personnel Supervision. Read on to learn the important information every nuclear medical technology/technologist student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering nuclear medical technology/technologist programs.
In the U.S., nuclear medical technology/technologist is a popular field of study, with 596 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist Schools ranking analyzes these 65 schools to determine the best overall colleges for nuclear medical technology/technologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nuclear medical technology/technologist programs later in this article.
Studies in Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations nuclear medical technology/technologist graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a nuclear medical technology/technologist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a nuclear medical technology/technologist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several nuclear medical technology/technologist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 87 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 240 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 245 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 24 |
People currently working in careers related to nuclear medical technology/technologist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 35.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.3% |
| Master’s degree | 16.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| First professional degree | 2.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in nuclear medical technology/technologist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in nuclear medical technology/technologist opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to nuclear medical technology/technologist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nuclear medical technology/technologist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 1,499,535 | 9.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of nuclear medical technology/technologist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,845 |
| 4 years | $61,295 |
| 5 years | $69,015 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for nuclear medical technology/technologist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers nuclear medical technology/technologist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $119,042 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 65 different nuclear medical technology/technologist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased nuclear medical technology/technologist school rankings to help you.
Those considering nuclear medical technology/technologist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
