Who gets paid more RN's or X-Ray Techs?

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just wondering if x-ray techs get paid more than rn's. If any has some info it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Specializes in NP / USAFR Flight Nurse.

How much will I earn as an x-ray technician or radiographer?

  • The current mean or average x-ray technician salary, nationally, is $59,735, according to the asrt. the current median x-ray tech salary, nationally, is $58,065.*
  • The lowest 5 percent of x-ray technician salaries, nationally, are below $30,000. the highest 5 percent of x-ray technician salaries, nationally, are above $90,000.

How will my education affect my x-ray technician salary?

  • The current mean or average x-ray technician salary for a radiographer with a high-school diploma and certificate, nationally, is $56,378.*
  • The current mean x-ray technician salary for a radiographer with a bachelor degree, nationally, is $63,028.*

Will my x-ray tech salary increase with experience?

  • The current mean x-ray technician salary for radiographers with less than 2 years of experience, nationally, is $36,918. the current mean x-ray tech salary for radiographers with three to five years experience is $43,003.
  • The current mean x-ray technician salary for radiographers with six to ten years experience is $54,465. this national mean increases to $57,855 and $64,550 with 11 to 20 years or 20-plus years of experience, respectively.
  • Your x-ray technician salary is also affected by your workplace. for instance, radiographers employed by v.a. hospitals and the armed services tend to earn a lower mean salary than those in mobile units, hospitals (particularly not-for-profit facilities), and diagnostic imaging centers.

* The American Society of Radiologic Technologists, radiologic technology wage and salary survey 2004

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Thanks for the info

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Is that right?

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Specializes in NP / USAFR Flight Nurse.

I previously looked it up due to a long wait to get into nursing school. Unfortunately the only Xray Tech program in my area had a selective process as well and was backed up just as bad nursing. I have a friend who has been a CT tech for nearly 20 years and he makes $74k/ year with minimal OT and Holidays.

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My friend started at Univ. of Chicago Hospital starting at 27/hr with 8thou sign on. I never hear that about nursing. I was about to do x ray tech program but my counsler said it was too competitive for me. So now im doing nursing program and getting all A's.

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I'm military; was trained by the USAF. I've been an xray tech for 7 yrs.

I've never performed xrays in the civilian sector but some techs in my dept landed jobs between 22 and $27/with ct experience.

I do not know that xray techs make more than RN's. Just doesn't seem right to me. Now--from what I've seen you'll make anywhere between $19 and $25 to start but I've never known a BASIC xray tech who made as much or more than an RN.

You have to understand that training in other specialities is as important as years of xray experience

If you have CT, MRI, MAMMO experience under your belt you will earn wayyy more money than one who just knows basic xray...

All in all an xray tech can easily make $50,000 a year.

US techs make more than nurses as I understand it but their jobs are BEYOND boring, imo.

@LIZZYETTE...You shouldn't have let your counselor talk you out of xray. Anyway I don't know about xray school being too competitive. My training in the air force was strenuous and intensive.

2 yrs of coursework crammed into 14 WEEKS. Then 52 weeks of OJT. Then we had to pass the QC test (ARRT type test which is much more difficult than the ARRT) before we could begin to take the ARRT.

Anyway I'm sure you could have done well.

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I am an x-ray tech and have been for 5 yrs. I make approx. $60k/yr and it is my understanding that alot of RN's make close to that coming out of school. That is what some RN's that I used to work with have told me. With x-ray it is how many different modalities you know that really increase your salary i.e. MR,CT,Ultrasound,Interventional not just doing plain film. Once you learn 2 or 3 of these and get registered in them you can begin to earn $65K to $75k and get away from the call, ect... I think x-ray techs have alot less stress than RN's, but I think that is why RN's make more too. The radiology schools in most areas are extremely competitive because there just are not that many of them. There were 325 applicants for the class I was in and 15 were selected. Both are good fields and both RN and x-ray have positives and negatives.

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lizzyberry said:
I was just wondering if x-ray techs get paid more than rn's. If any has some info it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

they make about the same!!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

My hubby works in radiology and he makes about the same as I do, he has a few more years than I do and has several certs for CT, MRI.

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