Xray Tech Salary 2026: What You’ll Really Earn (Full Guide)
Healthcare Careers · Salary Guide
Xray Tech Salary 2026: What You’ll Really Earn
The national median xray tech salary is $77,660 per year — but your actual pay could range from $52,360 to over $131,000 depending on your state, experience, and specialty certifications. Here’s the complete breakdown.
📅 Updated: February 2026📊 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics⏱ 10 min read
If you’re researching xray tech salary in 2026, here’s the honest picture: this career offers one of the best income-to-education ratios in healthcare. With a 2-year associate degree, you can earn more than many 4-year degree holders — and strategic moves around location and certifications can push your xray tech salary well above $100,000.
Below is everything you need, sourced directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 data.
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Key insight: There’s a $54,630 gap between entry-level and top-10% xray tech salaries. Your choices around location, certifications, and experience are the levers that move you from one end to the other.
Xray Tech Salary by State — 2026 Rankings
Location is the single biggest factor in your xray tech salary. A California xray tech earns a median of $103,150 — while a tech in Alabama earns around $44,000 doing identical work. That’s a $59,000 gap for the same job.
🏆 Highest-Paying States for Xray Techs
California
$103,150
Massachusetts
$93,270
Hawaii
$92,170
Oregon
$90,610
Washington
$89,910
Alaska
$87,180
Connecticut
$85,900
🌆
Metro spotlight: San Francisco pays the highest xray tech salary of any metro area in the U.S. — $131,140/year. That’s $53,480 above the national median for the same job title.
Complete State-by-State Xray Tech Salary Table
Rank
State
Annual Xray Tech Salary
Hourly Rate
vs. Median
#1
California
$103,150
$49.59
+$25,490
#2
Massachusetts
$93,270
$44.84
+$15,610
#3
Hawaii
$92,170
$44.31
+$14,510
#4
Oregon
$90,610
$43.56
+$12,950
#5
Washington
$89,910
$43.23
+$12,250
#6
Alaska
$87,180
$41.91
+$9,520
#7
Connecticut
$85,900
$41.30
+$8,240
#8
District of Columbia
$85,400
$41.06
+$7,740
#9
Rhode Island
$83,900
$40.34
+$6,240
#10
New York
$82,600
$39.71
+$4,940
11
New Jersey
$81,800
$39.33
+$4,140
12
Maryland
$78,600
$37.79
+$940
13
Minnesota
$78,100
$37.55
+$440
14
Illinois
$77,900
$37.45
+$240
—
🇺🇸 National Median
$77,660
$37.34
—
15
Colorado
$76,900
$36.97
-$760
16
Nevada
$75,000
$36.06
-$2,660
17
Pennsylvania
$74,400
$35.77
-$3,260
18
Virginia
$73,100
$35.14
-$4,560
19
Texas
$71,200
$34.23
-$6,460
20
Arizona
$70,000
$33.65
-$7,660
21–40
Remaining states
$55,000–$69,000
$26–$33
—
Last
Alabama / Mississippi
~$44,000
~$21
-$33,660
Xray Tech Salary by Experience Level
Your xray tech salary grows steadily with experience, typically peaking around the 10–15 year mark when specialty certifications and leadership roles combine to maximize your total compensation.
🎓
0–1 Years · Entry Level
~$50,000 / year ($24/hr)
Fresh ARRT credentials, performing routine X-rays under supervision. Focus on mastering positioning, workflow, and digital imaging systems.
🩻
1–4 Years · Junior Tech
~$54,000 / year ($26/hr)
Independent practice across multiple exam types. This is the ideal window to begin specialty certifications that will significantly raise your xray tech salary.
⚙️
5–9 Years · Mid-Level
~$61,000 / year ($29.50/hr)
Solid expertise, likely CT or MRI certified. Travel xray tech contracts become highly lucrative at this experience level — often adding $15,000–$25,000 to effective annual pay.
⭐
10–14 Years · Senior Tech
~$68,000–$80,000 / year
Multiple specialty certs, potential charge tech or supervisory responsibilities. Your xray tech salary at this stage varies widely based on state and certifications held.
🏆
15+ Years · Lead / Department Manager
$85,000–$110,000+ / year
Department lead, radiology supervisor, or imaging director. A bachelor’s degree plus 15 years experience pushes xray tech salary above $100K in most major markets.
🚀
Fast-track formula: 2+ years hospital experience + CT certification + MRI certification + California/Oregon/Washington market = $95,000–$120,000 xray tech salary within 5 years. This combination is the single most reliable path to six figures in this career.
Specialty Certifications That Boost Xray Tech Salary
Adding specialty certifications is the fastest way to increase your xray tech salary — typically by $5,000–$15,000 per year with programs that take 6–18 months to complete.
🧲
MRI Technologist
+$10,000–$15,000/yr
Median salary: $88,180/year. Most in-demand specialty. Requires 1–2 years RT experience. Highest ROI for most xray techs.
☢
CT Scan Technologist
+$5,000–$8,000/yr
Median: $75,300/year added to base. 6–12 month program — the fastest specialty to earn and widely required by employers.
⚡
Nuclear Medicine Tech
+$12,000/yr
Median: $89,600/year. Highly specialized, fewer professionals in this field — creating strong leverage for salary negotiation.
🩻
Radiation Therapist
+$33,000/yr
Median: $110,820/year. Biggest xray tech salary jump. Requires additional training but delivers the highest long-term earnings.
🤱
Mammography (Mammo)
+$3,000–$6,000/yr
Easiest specialty to obtain. High demand in women’s health facilities. Many hospitals now require it for standard xray tech positions.
💀
Bone Densitometry (DEXA)
+$2,000–$4,000/yr
Quickest certification available. Excellent add-on for outpatient and women’s health settings. Easy to maintain.
🎯
Best certification stack: Earn your CT cert first (fastest, +$6K), then MRI (+$12K). In California, this combination regularly puts total xray tech salary above $115,000–$125,000.
Xray Tech Salary by Work Setting
Hospitals consistently pay the highest xray tech salaries. Outpatient and clinic settings offer better work-life balance at a pay trade-off. Travel xray techs earn the most total compensation of any work setting.
Work Setting
Median Xray Tech Salary
Notes
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals
$80,440
Best pay + benefits; nights/weekends likely
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
$73,900
Specialized, high volume
Outpatient Care Centers
$72,140
Better hours, lower pay
Physicians’ Offices / Clinics
$71,530
Mon–Fri, no weekends or holidays
🚗 Travel Xray Tech
$70K–$90K Base
+ housing stipend + per diem + completion bonuses
🚗
Travel xray tech all-in package: Base pay ($30–$40/hr) + tax-free housing stipend ($1,500–$2,500/month) + per diem ($50–$75/day) + completion bonuses ($1,000–$2,000/contract) = effective rate of $40–$55/hour. Most agencies require 1–2 years of hospital experience before your first travel contract.
4 Proven Ways to Earn $100K+ as an Xray Tech
These aren’t vague suggestions — they’re concrete, data-backed moves that consistently push xray tech salaries into six figures.
1
💚 +$5K–$15K/year
Earn Specialty Certifications
CT certification takes 6–12 months and immediately adds $5,000–$8,000 to your xray tech salary. MRI adds $10,000–$15,000. Stack both certifications and you’re in an entirely different income bracket — without leaving radiology.
2
💚 +$30K–$59K/year
Relocate to a High-Paying Market
Moving from Alabama ($44K) to California ($103K) is a $59,000 raise for identical work. The entire West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) and Northeast (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York) consistently offer the highest xray tech salaries in the country.
3
💚 Highest short-term earnings
Take Travel Xray Tech Contracts
After 1–2 years of hospital experience, travel contracts offer $70,000–$90,000+ base pay plus tax-free housing and per diem. For mobile, flexible techs, this is the single highest-earning path in the entire xray tech salary landscape.
4
💚 +$8K–$12K + leadership access
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
An associate degree is sufficient to earn an xray tech salary, but a bachelor’s degree unlocks supervisory and management tracks. Career path: Staff Tech ($77K) → Senior Tech ($85K) → Lead Tech ($92K) → Department Manager ($95K–$110K+).
Is an Xray Tech Salary Worth It in 2026?
Yes — for the right person. The xray tech salary delivers one of the strongest income-to-education ratios in American healthcare. In 2 years of schooling (associate degree), you can begin earning $50,000+ and reach the national median by your mid-20s.
Factor
Details
📚 Education Required
2-year Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology
💰 Starting Xray Tech Salary
$50,000–$55,000 in most markets
📈 Median Xray Tech Salary
$77,660/year — reachable by age 24–25
📊 Job Growth (BLS)
+5% through 2034 — above average growth
🏥 Job Security
High — hospitals always need imaging staff
🎓 Degree Cost (Community College)
$8,000–$25,000 (typically recouped in <1 year)
⬆️ Ceiling
$100K+ realistic with certs + right state
📈
The aging U.S. population (76 million baby boomers moving through their 60s and 70s) is driving sustained demand for diagnostic imaging. The BLS projects +5% job growth through 2034 for radiologic technologists — xray tech salary and job security will both remain strong through the decade.
Xray Tech Salary vs Other Healthcare Careers
Context matters when evaluating a career. Here’s how the xray tech salary compares to other healthcare roles — with education time factored in:
Career
Education
Median Salary
Pay Scale
Anesthesiologist
12+ years
$400,000+
Radiation Therapist
2–4 years
$110,820
Registered Nurse (RN)
2–4 years
$89,010
⭐ Xray Technologist
2 years
$77,660
Surgical Technologist
2 years
$61,550
Licensed Practical Nurse
1 year
$59,730
Medical Assistant
1 year
$42,000
CNA
4–12 weeks
$38,200
Bottom line: For a 2-year degree, the xray tech salary is exceptional. You out-earn LPNs, CNAs, and medical assistants while spending the same time in school. And unlike nursing, which increasingly requires a 4-year BSN to compete, an associate-level xray tech can reach $77,660 and beyond.
Xray Tech Salary 2026 — The Bottom Line
With the right combination of location, certifications, and experience, here’s what your xray tech salary trajectory looks like:
$50,000–$55,000 starting out in most U.S. markets with your ARRT certification
$77,660 national median — reachable within 3–5 years in most states
$90,000–$103,000+ in California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Oregon
$100,000–$115,000+ with CT + MRI certifications in a top-paying state
$115,000–$131,000+ with specialty certs + San Francisco / NYC metro markets
Frequently Asked Questions: Xray Tech Salary
The highest-volume questions about xray tech salary in 2026, answered with current BLS data.
The national median xray tech salary in 2026 is $77,660 per year ($37.34 per hour), based on May 2024 BLS data. Entry-level xray techs start around $52,360, while the top 10% of earners make $106,990+. In high-paying states like California, the median xray tech salary reaches $103,150. The average varies significantly by location, certifications, and years of experience.
The national median xray tech hourly wage is $37.34 per hour. Entry-level xray techs earn $24–$26/hour, mid-level techs earn $28–$35/hour, and experienced techs with specialty certifications in California or Massachusetts can earn $45–$55+/hour. Travel xray techs earn an effective all-in rate of $40–$55/hour when housing stipends and per diem are included.
California pays xray techs the highest salary with a median of $103,150/year — $25,490 above the national median. The San Francisco metro area pays $131,140, the highest of any metro in the country. Other top-paying states are Massachusetts ($93,270), Hawaii ($92,170), Oregon ($90,610), and Washington ($89,910). If maximizing your xray tech salary is your goal, the West Coast and New England are your best options.
Yes — absolutely. The top 10% of xray technologists earn $106,990+ nationally. Reaching $100K requires one or more of these: (1) working in California, Massachusetts, or another top-paying state; (2) earning CT and/or MRI specialty certifications; (3) taking travel xray tech contracts; or (4) advancing into supervisory or management roles. With the right combination of location and certifications, a $100K xray tech salary is realistically achievable within 5–8 years of getting licensed.
Becoming an xray tech takes a minimum of 2 years with an Associate Degree in Radiologic Technology. This qualifies you to sit for the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) exam. A bachelor’s degree takes 4 years and unlocks management-level xray tech salaries. Some accelerated programs offer completion in 18–22 months. After completing your degree, most states also require a state license before you can begin earning your xray tech salary.
Travel xray techs earn a base salary of $70,000–$90,000+ per year, plus significant tax-free add-ons: housing stipend ($1,500–$2,500/month), per diem ($50–$75/day), and completion bonuses ($1,000–$2,000 per contract). All-in, most travel xray techs earn an effective hourly rate of $40–$55, making it the highest-paying xray tech work setting. Most agencies require 1–2 years of hospital experience before placing you on your first travel contract.
On average, registered nurses earn slightly more than xray techs — the RN median is $89,010 versus $77,660 for xray technologists. However, RNs increasingly need a 4-year BSN degree to advance, while xray techs reach their median salary with just a 2-year associate degree. In high-paying markets with specialty certifications, xray tech salaries of $95,000–$125,000 are achievable, which exceeds most RN salaries outside of specialty nursing fields like CRNA or NP.
The certifications with the biggest impact on xray tech salary are: Radiation Therapy (+$33,000/yr), MRI (+$10,000–$15,000/yr), Nuclear Medicine (+$12,000/yr), and CT Scan (+$5,000–$8,000/yr). For most xray techs, stacking CT and MRI certifications is the optimal strategy — adding $15,000–$23,000 annually within 2–3 years of getting licensed, without requiring a full career change.
The xray tech job outlook is strong. The BLS projects +5% employment growth for radiologic technologists through 2034, driven by the aging U.S. population requiring more diagnostic imaging. Demand is particularly strong for CT and MRI-certified techs. Xray tech salaries are expected to rise alongside this demand, and job security is high — diagnostic imaging is non-negotiable in modern healthcare and is not susceptible to outsourcing.
Absolutely. With a 2-year associate degree (average cost: $8,000–$25,000 at community colleges), you begin earning a starting xray tech salary of $50,000–$55,000 and reach $77,660 within a few years. Your entire educational investment is typically recouped within 6–12 months of your first paycheck. Few 2-year programs in any field deliver this combination of starting salary, growth ceiling, and job stability. The xray tech salary ROI is consistently ranked among the highest in healthcare education.
The median xray tech salary in Texas is approximately $71,200 per year ($34.23/hour), which is about $6,460 below the national median of $77,660. Texas has a relatively low cost of living in most metro areas, which partially offsets the below-average pay. Dallas and Houston pay slightly higher xray tech salaries than rural Texas. Texas xray techs with CT and MRI certifications typically earn $78,000–$90,000, which is more competitive.
California offers the highest xray tech salary in the nation at a median of $103,150/year ($49.59/hour). The San Francisco metro area pays the most at $131,140 — the highest xray tech salary of any metro in the country. Los Angeles xray tech salaries average around $105,000–$115,000 for experienced techs. California also has strong union representation in many hospital systems, which further protects and elevates xray tech salaries compared to national averages.
📊 All salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 data. | dollarhire.us | Updated February 2026
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