by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Radiologic Technology covers Radiologic Technology/science - Radiographer. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians, To Provide Medical Imaging Services To Patients And Attending Health Care Professionals. Includes Instruction In Applied Anatomy And Physiology, Patient Positioning, Radiographic Technique, Radiation Biology, Safety And Emergency Procedures, Equipment Operation And Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Patient Education, And Medical Imaging/radiologic Services Management. Read on to learn the essential details every radiologic technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering radiologic technology programs.
Nationwide, radiologic technology draws strong interest, with 11,777 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Radiologic Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 494 schools to determine the best overall colleges for radiologic technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of radiologic technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Radiologic Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations radiologic technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a radiologic technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a radiologic technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several radiologic technology 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 | 1,428 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,973 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,605 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 736 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to radiologic technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 53.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 12.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in radiologic technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in radiologic technology opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to radiologic technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to radiologic technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 3,384,397 | 13.3% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of radiologic technology 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 radiologic technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers radiologic technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $137,802 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 494 different radiologic technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased radiologic technology school rankings to help you.
Those considering radiologic technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
