If you’re thinking about a career in medical imaging, or you’ve just received an offer and want to know whether it’s fair, the question is simple: how much does an x ray tech make? The national median is $80,110 a year, or about $38.52 an hour. That’s a useful starting point, but the range around it is wide, and where you work, what you’re certified in, and the kind of employer you choose can shift your pay by tens of thousands of dollars.
Here’s what the numbers look like, and what’s behind them.
Key Takeaways
- The national median x ray tech salary is $80,110, per the BLS May 2025 wage survey.
- X ray tech salary ranges from $55,980 (bottom 10%) to $118,660 (top 10%).
- The highest x ray tech salary by state is California at $121,260; federal jobs lead by employer at $97,490.
- Adding CT or MRI credentials can raise your x ray tech salary — MRI technologists earn a $95,480 median.
What x ray techs earn nationally
“X ray tech,” “rad tech,” “radiographer,” and “radiologic technologist” all describe roughly the same job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) files it under radiologic technologists and technicians, a category that covers people who take x-rays and CT scans. That means the national figures blend x-ray-only techs with those who’ve added CT.
Here is the pay distribution from the BLS’s May 2025 wage survey, the most recent full release:
| Percentile | Annual pay | What it roughly represents |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,980 | The lowest-paid tenth, often newer techs or lower-cost markets |
| 25th | $64,810 | Lower quartile |
| Median (50th) | $80,110 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th | $98,750 | Upper quartile |
| 90th | $118,660 | Top-paid tenth |
The BLS puts the 10th and 90th percentile figures at $55,980 and $118,660, with the middle half of techs earning between about $64,800 and $98,750. The mean, or simple average, is a bit higher than the median at $83,840. If you see two salary sites quoting slightly different “averages,” that’s usually why.
For context, the median for all US workers was $50,980 in May 2025. An x-ray tech at the median earns roughly 57% more than that.
What a new x ray tech makes
The BLS doesn’t publish a separate entry-level figure, and its median wage estimates aren’t meant to represent entry-level pay. The 10th and 25th percentiles, roughly $56,000 to $65,000, are a reasonable ballpark for a new graduate. That’s my rough estimate rather than an official number, and it can be off in either direction. A first-year tech in a high-paying coastal market can start well above it, while one in a low-cost rural area may start below.
Your first offer also isn’t where you’ll stay. Pay tends to climb with experience, and adding a second modality is the fastest way to speed that up (more on that below).
How your employer changes the paycheck
Most x ray techs work in hospitals. About 60% of radiologic technologists and technicians work in hospitals, and another 17% work in physicians’ offices. Pay differs by setting:
| Where you work | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Federal government (excluding postal service) | $97,490 |
| Outpatient care centers | $84,720 |
| Hospitals | $80,650 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | $78,400 |
| Offices of physicians | $74,540 |
These are BLS medians for May 2025. Two things stand out.
First, outpatient centers pay more than hospitals at the median. That’s the opposite of what a lot of career guides claim, so it’s worth knowing before you assume a hospital job is automatically the best-paying one. Hospitals can still come out ahead on total compensation, since they tend to offer stronger benefits such as retirement matching, shift differentials, and tuition reimbursement. A lower base salary with a shift differential for nights and weekends can add up to more than a higher base with regular daytime hours.
Second, federal jobs pay best by a clear margin. Only about 3% of techs work for the federal government, mostly in places like VA medical centers, so the openings are limited, but they’re worth watching.
Where you live matters more than almost anything
Geography is probably the biggest single lever on pay. Here are the top states by median annual wage, based on May 2025 BLS data:
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| California | $121,260 |
| Massachusetts | $103,620 |
| District of Columbia | $102,770 |
| Oregon | $102,290 |
| Washington | $102,090 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 |
| Alaska | $98,920 |
| New York | $98,470 |
| New Jersey | $95,000 |
| Vermont | $94,540 |
These state figures come from the BLS’s May 2025 release as compiled by NueCareer. Other sites that repackage the same data sometimes show numbers a thousand dollars or so different for the same state, so check the BLS state tables for your own location before negotiating.
The spread across the country is large. In the May 2023 data, the average in California was about $103,150, while in Mississippi it was about $53,660. That’s older data, but the gap has stayed similar in size.
Cost of living narrows the difference. Even after adjusting for regional prices, California still comes out on top at about $109,520. But a $75,000 salary in a lower-cost city can leave you with more spending power than a bigger paycheck in San Francisco or Boston, once housing is factored in.
How to earn more as an x-ray tech
The base credential is an associate’s degree and, in most states, a license or certification. After that, your options for raising your pay look like this:
- Add CT. CT sits inside the same BLS category as x-ray, so there’s no clean national number showing its premium. Many employers do pay more for CT-certified techs, and it makes you far more employable in hospitals and emergency departments.
- Move into MRI. MRI technologists earned a median of $95,480 in May 2025, and MRI technologists often start out as radiologic technologists. The BLS notes that MRI techs typically need less than five years of related experience.
- Pick up shifts and differentials. Because imaging is sometimes needed in emergencies, some technologists work evenings, weekends, or overnight. Those hours often carry extra pay.
- Consider a federal or outpatient employer, given the industry figures above.
- Move up or over. Lead tech and supervisor roles pay more, and related imaging and radiation careers offer another route, compared below.
| Career | Typical entry education | Median annual pay |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular technologist | Associate’s | $74,310 |
| Radiologic technologist (x-ray/CT) | Associate’s | $80,110 |
| MRI technologist | Associate’s | $95,480 |
| Diagnostic medical sonographer | Associate’s | $96,590 |
| Nuclear medicine technologist | Associate’s | $101,370 |
| Radiation therapist | Associate’s | $105,310 |
| Medical dosimetrist | Bachelor’s | $147,470 |
These are May 2025 median wages from the BLS. Many of these paths start with a radiography background, so an x-ray credential can be a stepping stone rather than a final destination.
Limited-scope x-ray techs earn less
You’ll also see jobs for limited-scope x-ray operators, sometimes called LXMOs or LMRTs depending on the state. They usually X-ray specific parts of the body, often in urgent care or orthopedic clinics, after shorter training. The BLS doesn’t track them separately. Self-reported figures are the best you’ll find, and one salary site puts the average at around $22 an hour. Treat that as a rough guide, but it’s clearly well below what fully certified radiographers earn. The tradeoff is a faster route into the field, and some people later bridge into a full radiography program.
Is the pay worth the training?
For a two-year degree, the pay is strong. You also get a steady job market. The BLS projects employment for radiologic and MRI technologists to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 15,300 openings a year. Much of that comes from people retiring or leaving the field rather than brand-new positions, but it still means steady hiring.
The job has real demands, though. Techs are often on their feet for long periods and may need to lift or turn patients. You’ll wear a radiation badge that tracks your exposure, and the risk is kept low by shielding and monitoring. Keeping your credential current takes ongoing work too: ARRT-certified techs must complete 24 continuing education credits every two years.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an x-ray tech make per hour?
The national median is about $38.52 an hour. The hourly range runs from the low $20s at the bottom of the distribution to $50 or more at the top, depending on location and experience.
Can an x-ray tech make six figures?
Yes, though not everywhere. The 75th percentile is $98,750 and the 90th is $118,660, so plenty of techs are at or near six figures. It’s most common in high-paying states like California, Oregon, and Washington, in federal jobs, and for techs with extra certifications, overtime, or lead roles.
Do x-ray techs make more than other imaging techs?
Generally not. MRI technologists, sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists all have higher medians. X-ray pays more than cardiovascular technology at the median, and it often serves as the entry point to the higher-paying modalities.
What’s the highest-paying state?
California, at a median a little over $120,000, followed by Massachusetts, DC, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, all around or just above $100,000.
Do you need a degree to be an x-ray tech?
For a fully certified radiographer, typically yes. An associate’s degree is the usual requirement, and most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified. Requirements vary by state, so check with your state’s health board.
Will these numbers change?
They will. The BLS updates wage data annually, and pay moves with local demand and staffing shortages. Treat any figure as a snapshot and look up your own state and metro area before making decisions.
Bottom line
An $80,110 median makes x-ray tech a solid middle-class career for a two-year degree, but your own number depends heavily on your state, your employer, and whether you add a second modality. If you’re starting out, look at what your local market actually pays before comparing programs. If you’re already working, ask about differentials, and consider whether CT or MRI is your best next step.
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