The right way to feel good about a career direction is to gather as much information as possible from as many dependable sources as possible. That’s why those attracted to the idea of working in diagnostic imaging (doing X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans, etc.) love their decision to become radiologic technologists – a rad tech.
The career website owlguru.com, which describes and grades more than 1,100 occupations, identifies an ideal candidate for a radiologic technology degree as “the builder” type. That means they like having a unique, practical set of skills they are specialists in, appreciate technology, and want to feel like they’re part of a professional team helping patients get the best care possible.
In analyzing various aspects of what these diagnostic imaging professionals do, the owlguru.com analysis gives rad techs excellent scores in some very important categories, shown in the chart below.
| Category: Becoming a Radiologic Technologist | Satisfaction Rank (1-5) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | 5 of 5 | $46,850-$51,202 ($64,840 median salary among all rad techs in the workforce) |
| Path to become one | 3 of 5 | 2-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree |
| Job Growth | 5 of 5 | 11% expansion, 2020-2030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
| Job Satisfaction | 4 of 5 | 77% of rad techs believe their job is make other people’s lives better |
More validation for why you should become a radiologic technologist comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Studies. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which compiles data about career trends, notes that adults age 65 and older will reach nearly 22% of the U.S. population by 2030, presenting an increase in age-related medical conditions, which require imaging as a diagnostic tool.
Another way to assess the value of earning a radiologic technology degree is to see how it ranks in the annual survey of occupations published by U.S. News and World Report. As of May 2021, radiologic technologists ranked in the top 25 health care support jobs. Rad tech has been in the top 25 every year since 2018.
The diagnostic imaging field is expanding rapidly because innovations in imaging technology allow for earlier and better diagnosis of conditions, diseases, and disorders. Diagnostics that are more accurate lead to more precise treatments. That’s a primary reason noninvasive imaging is quickly replacing invasive exploratory procedures.
In fact, physicians can use imaging technologies to check for possible health conditions before symptoms appear. In some cases, imaging can help physicians diagnose the causes of physical symptoms.
Typical applications for imaging include
After learning about what rad techs do, students are excited to know their rad tech skillset can be valuable in many different work settings. Registered radiologic technologists are on staff in hospitals, medical clinics, group physician practices, mobile imaging facilities, and surgery centers.
Once in the workforce, many rad techs who’ve entered the profession with a radiography certification pathway choose to add specialized certifications, making them more employable.
These certifications can include CT (computed tomography), nuclear medicine, mammography, and cardiac-interventional radiography. (Learn more about these opportunities here,)
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, chiropractic and health sciences university in suburban Kansas City. CUKC, with a 34-acre campus in Overland Park, Kansas, offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S. degree) in Radiologic Technology. Most of our graduates receive their degree in two years through our year-round schedule.
Attractive features of our A.A.S. in Radiologic Technology degree program:
To learn more about how to become a radiologic technologist, request more information today. You’ll also benefit from getting this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to a Career as a Radiologic Technologist.
