Medical Imaging, start 50k, leading to SIX FIGURES? Nursing v Rad/Sonography

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a friend going to school out of state for her "medical imaging" degree. I explained that I know a little bit about the radiology and ultrasonography careers having done some research, but she said the medical imaging degree covers a more broad spectrum rather than those specifically.

It's a "two year" degree (as much as nursing is, as I assume you still need pre-reqs there too), but because I hear so much radio/daytime tv ad coverage, I'm understandably skeptical.

Salary.com and dozens of other sites puts the median income for "medical imaging" professionals (I still think you eventually go into either US or Radiology, no?) seems to be about mid-50's. But the key that my friend keeps mentioning is specialization.

I understand that as you specialize and gain certifications, your pay will go up.. but does it double? It just seems like this is so laced with FUD (bad data) and that many are getting confused.

Personally, from the research I've done, I think that even if you want to go into these fields, you should do it with a nursing degree so that you have the added flexibility. From what I understand it's fairly easy for an RN to specialize and learn what the tech's are learning.

So has anyone's travels down the nursing school/employment path, brought them close to someone who would know for sure what these magical certifications are for these giant paychecks? I'm not doubting 50's or even low 60's.. but beyond that, I just can't believe that someone out of school for less than 5 years would be earning 75k+ as a tech in sonography or radiology?

I know there's a radiology nursing subforum, so excuse me for posting here - it just seemed more related to general nursing :uhoh3:

I appreciate any feedback, I've heard a lot of stories from other folks who's girlfriends or boyfriends are going to school for this, but they seem as in the dark as I am. I imagine it's not until you're actually in the industry that you learn about the true steps in order to make a commanding salary like the one mentioned. Just sounds a tad crazy that a tech could someday make as much as a CRNA :trout:

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I'm highly skeptical. In fact, I'd say you will mostly hear about the far out salaries from the schools that train these medical imaging specialists.

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I'm highly skeptical. In fact, I'd say you will mostly hear about the far out salaries from the schools that train these medical imaging specialists.

That's my general consensus, but with how adamant she was, I wasn't sure how a "medical imaging" degree was any different from becoming a radiology tech or sonography tech.

I know travel nurses willing to work wherever and whenever can make great money too, but it's not stable from what I understand and highly atypical.

I admit, the fields interest me more than standard hospital nursing. But being an RN, from what I understand, you can also move into these fields with some additional education. I'm sure techs will have job security for a long time but I wonder if the career path they set the techs on don't allow them to see the forest for the trees if you will :o

She won't listen to me though, I'm hopeful someone can provide me with enough to at least enlighten her.

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I would be very skeptical. Technically, they don't have to pay that much b/c the job isn't really in demand...nowhere near like nursing or radiology.

Think about it...most of them work for an OB-GYN ..so how many positions can there possibly be available?

These programs are also few and far between...I haven't found a college within 6 HOURS of my home that offers it, and one that I thought did, that was closer...DROPPED the program due to lack of interest.

The second closest one I found, at a very, very large CC, only permitted 12 applicants PER YEAR.

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First off, a radiologist is a doctor who interprets the images.

What you are talking about is a medical imaging technician. The techs who run the x-ray, MRI, CT scanners. They make good money but trust me its nowhere near 6 figures. Average salary would be more like 50-70k. 70k is only for those who get special extra training in nuclear scanner techniques.

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First off, a radiologist is a doctor who interprets the images.

What you are talking about is a medical imaging technician. The techs who run the x-ray, MRI, CT scanners. They make good money but trust me its nowhere near 6 figures. Average salary would be more like 50-70k. 70k is only for those who get special extra training in nuclear scanner techniques.

Not neccessarily. A local community college here has "Radiography" major, that does a variety of medical imaging, and it is a Tech position.

Radiology also refers to the field of medical imaging.

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Not neccessarily. A local community college here has "Radiography" major, that does a variety of medical imaging, and it is a Tech position.

Radiology also refers to the field of medical imaging.

yes but radioloGIST refers to an MD with a specialization in interpreting diagnostic images. radiology TECHs are the people that take the x-rays. they have no training in reading/diagnosis whatsoever. they are only trained to determine the QUALITY of the image and ensure the radiologist will be able read it.

as far as carrer paths, everyone usually starts out in general xray (radiology). from there with experience technicians can specialize into CT, nuclear medicine, mammography, ultrasound, or MRI.

the starting pay for rad-techs here in hawaii is in the low $20/hr. specialization in nuclear medicine or MRI gets you closer to $30/hr. for reference RN's here make about $40/hr at the major hospitals.

so yea, techs don't really come close to RN's in terms of pay.

i hope your friend isn't being shown radioloGIST salaries. that's like showing surgeon salaries to entice new surgical techs...

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Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

In my hospital sonography techs earn more than RNs do. One sonographer told me that she went to school in Dallas for 18 months before she became certified.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

kiyatylese ...I agree with you. I have a friend who was once a HUC here (unit secretary) who went thru the sonographer program and now makes very near if not over $100,000/year. She is a contract sonographer and owns the company -something very easy to do once you are certified and specialized..and contrary to popular opinion...specialization doesn't take that long.

vamedic4

It was a long day today!

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kiyatylese ...I agree with you. I have a friend who was once a HUC here (unit secretary) who went thru the sonographer program and now makes very near if not over $100,000/year. She is a contract sonographer and owns the company -something very easy to do once you are certified and specialized..and contrary to popular opinion...specialization doesn't take that long.

vamedic4

It was a long day today!

I've heard this before as well. Do you know what the time/money needs are to get to that point? I wonder if it's a matter of a 2 week training certification or if it's another couple years of school...

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yes but radioloGIST refers to an MD with a specialization in interpreting diagnostic images. radiology TECHs are the people that take the x-rays. they have no training in reading/diagnosis whatsoever. they are only trained to determine the QUALITY of the image and ensure the radiologist will be able read it. .

The OP got the original job title CORRECT and referred to it as as a Tech position. It was the basis of her entire question if a Tech could actually make that much.

That was my only point.

Here the techs do make very close to an RN starting salary, but not $100K. I would also wager that a Radiologist would make substantially more than $100K

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The OP got the original job title CORRECT and referred to it as as a Tech position. It was the basis of her entire question if a Tech could actually make that much.

That was my only point.

Here the techs do make very close to an RN starting salary, but not $100K. I would also wager that a Radiologist would make substantially more than $100K

Thanks for clarifying that for me :) And it's "him" ;)

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