X-rays are used on all parts of the body.
An X-ray technician uses complex medical machinery to create images of the human skeleton, internal organs and internal musculature. Her professional title is radiologic technician or technologist and she typically works under the supervision of a radiologist in a hospital or a private medical practice. Her salary may vary according to different factors.
Average Income
As of 2008, the latest year official figures were published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual income for an X-ray technician working in the United States was $52,210. This reflects basic pay only; benefits such as pension provision and bonuses such as profit sharing will augment a pay packet.
Income by Employer
PayScale.com conducted a survey in December 2010 that analyzed the three main types of employer of X-ray technicians. Hospitals offered an average income range of $31,315 to $50,480, companies offered $23,489 to $43,909 and private practice had a range of $25,434 to $51,483.
Income by Experience
As an individual accrues experience her annual income is likely to rise considerably. PayScale.com found that those with between five and nine years in the field could expect figures of between $23,797 and $54,045. For those with 10 to 19 years of experience, the figures shot up to $75,987 to $90,000.
Income by Location
Location can have a significant effect on income levels for X-ray technicians. PayScale.com found a marked variation across salary levels in various states. California and Illinois had the broadest ranges -- $35,000 to $75,000 and $31,000 to $60,000 respectively, while Georgia and Texas had the smallest ranges -- $29,479 to $41,116 and $39,149 to $50,980.
Training
An X-ray technician must complete a course, usually running between 21 and 24 months, in order to be qualified to use X-ray machinery. These courses are run at universities and hospitals and favor candidates with good high school grades in maths and the sciences.
Certification
One way of increasing annual income is for an X-ray technician to register with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. This group is recognized as maintaining the highest standards of training. Individuals must pass an ARRT-approved course in order to register.
Prospects
Income for X-ray technicians should remain competitive in the future as demand for their services is expected to rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 17 percent rise through 2018. Further training is likely to boost an individual technician's earning capacity. Besides X-rays, modern medical facilities will seek individuals experienced in operating MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) scan machinery
