Nuclear medicine technologist salary
BLS occupation: Nuclear Medicine Technologists · Healthcare practitioners · data for May 2025
Median salary $101,370 a year, US
Median hourly pay $48.74 an hour
Middle half earn $86,720–$117,120 25th to 75th percentile
Nuclear medicine technologists employed 17,080 +4.4% projected by 2035
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make?
- The median nuclear medicine technologist salary in the US is $101,370 a year ($48.74 an hour): half of the 17,080 nuclear medicine technologists BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $105,160.
- The middle half earn between $86,720 and $117,120. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $78,080 and the top 10% more than $134,500.
- That is 99% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- California pays nuclear medicine technologists the most (median $162,380), followed by Washington ($126,200) and Hawaii ($125,650). Kansas pays the least ($64,610).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in California, where the median is worth $146,658 in typical US prices, then Oregon and Washington.
- In 95 of the 98 metro areas with data, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of nuclear medicine technologists to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 800 openings a year. The typical entry education is an associate's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what nuclear medicine technologists are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Nuclear medicine technologist salary range
Half of nuclear medicine technologists earn between $86,720 and $117,120 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $78,080
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $86,720
Median Yearly pay: $101,370
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $117,120
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $134,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $78,080 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $86,720 |
| Median | $101,370 |
| Top 25% earn over | $117,120 |
| Top 10% earn over | $134,500 |
Nuclear medicine technologist salary by state
California pays nuclear medicine technologists the most; Kansas the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($101,370), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| California | $162,380 median |
| Washington | $126,200 median |
| Hawaii | $125,650 median |
| New Jersey | $124,280 median |
| Oregon | $122,100 median |
| New York | $118,650 median |
| Massachusetts | $118,250 median |
| Connecticut | $117,150 median |
| Colorado | $116,990 median |
| District of Columbia | $116,630 median |
| Utah | $111,770 median |
| Nevada | $109,150 median |
| New Hampshire | $107,890 median |
| Minnesota | $107,380 median |
| Illinois | $104,950 median |
| Idaho | $104,630 median |
| Nebraska | $104,320 median |
| Maryland | $104,150 median |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 median |
| Indiana | $103,230 median |
| North Dakota | $102,640 median |
| Virginia | $101,820 median |
| Texas | $101,170 median |
| Georgia | $100,880 median |
| Montana | $100,490 median |
| Delaware | $100,470 median |
| Arizona | $100,130 median |
| Maine | $99,500 median |
| Wisconsin | $98,450 median |
| New Mexico | $98,400 median |
| Missouri | $98,010 median |
| Ohio | $97,570 median |
| Florida | $97,310 median |
| Kentucky | $95,470 median |
| Michigan | $95,400 median |
| Pennsylvania | $94,570 median |
| Iowa | $92,890 median |
| Oklahoma | $90,640 median |
| South Carolina | $90,230 median |
| Louisiana | $87,670 median |
| North Carolina | $85,240 median |
| Tennessee | $84,470 median |
| Arkansas | $83,670 median |
| Mississippi | $83,340 median |
| Alabama | $82,630 median |
| South Dakota | $82,010 median |
| Wyoming | $81,900 median |
| West Virginia | $76,460 median |
| Kansas | $64,610 median |
Where nuclear medicine technologist pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Nuclear medicine technologists' pay goes furthest in California once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| California | $146,658 |
| Oregon | $118,130 |
| Washington | $117,930 |
| Nebraska | $115,779 |
| North Dakota | $115,379 |
| Hawaii | $114,278 |
| New Jersey | $114,223 |
| Colorado | $113,525 |
| Connecticut | $113,068 |
| Utah | $113,054 |
Nuclear medicine technologist pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $162,380 | $78.07 | $122,760 | $200,990 | 1,500 | $146,658 |
| Washington | $126,200 | $60.67 | $102,970 | $158,740 | 320 | $117,930 |
| Hawaii | $125,650 | $60.41 | $108,140 | $130,220 | 30 | $114,278 |
| New Jersey | $124,280 | $59.75 | $101,830 | $140,340 | 540 | $114,223 |
| Oregon | $122,100 | $58.70 | $101,080 | $132,510 | 180 | $118,130 |
| New York | $118,650 | $57.04 | $96,870 | $134,400 | 890 | $109,942 |
| Massachusetts | $118,250 | $56.85 | $88,470 | $148,900 | 380 | $111,813 |
| Connecticut | $117,150 | $56.32 | $98,800 | $129,720 | 170 | $113,068 |
| Colorado | $116,990 | $56.25 | $94,950 | $132,580 | 200 | $113,525 |
| District of Columbia | $116,630 | $56.07 | $96,160 | $150,860 | 30 | $106,123 |
| Utah | $111,770 | $53.74 | $91,570 | $129,590 | 120 | $113,054 |
| Nevada | $109,150 | $52.48 | $97,640 | $136,520 | 120 | $109,173 |
| New Hampshire | $107,890 | $51.87 | $103,570 | $123,450 | 60 | $103,576 |
| Minnesota | $107,380 | $51.63 | $96,440 | $119,650 | 200 | $108,881 |
| Illinois | $104,950 | $50.46 | $84,590 | $122,800 | 620 | $104,994 |
| Idaho | $104,630 | $50.30 | $83,550 | $123,990 | 80 | $109,567 |
| Nebraska | $104,320 | $50.15 | $58,130 | $124,410 | 120 | $115,779 |
| Maryland | $104,150 | $50.07 | $87,120 | $122,930 | 330 | $99,229 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | $50.00 | $99,230 | $133,890 | 110 | $101,682 |
| Indiana | $103,230 | $49.63 | $85,140 | $119,310 | 280 | $110,609 |
| North Dakota | $102,640 | $49.35 | $76,250 | $115,390 | 50 | $115,379 |
| Virginia | $101,820 | $48.95 | $84,600 | $120,070 | 430 | $100,708 |
| Texas | $101,170 | $48.64 | $81,330 | $124,530 | 1,060 | $104,238 |
| Georgia | $100,880 | $48.50 | $75,490 | $125,760 | 540 | $104,764 |
| Montana | $100,490 | $48.31 | $62,340 | $107,830 | 50 | $106,176 |
| Delaware | $100,470 | $48.30 | $83,190 | $122,490 | 70 | $100,663 |
| Arizona | $100,130 | $48.14 | $81,030 | $123,130 | 430 | $99,457 |
| Maine | $99,500 | $47.84 | $80,820 | $113,730 | 70 | $102,524 |
| Wisconsin | $98,450 | $47.33 | $77,380 | $118,560 | 390 | $104,628 |
| New Mexico | $98,400 | $47.31 | $74,820 | $125,230 | 70 | $106,711 |
| Missouri | $98,010 | $47.12 | $76,660 | $118,120 | 360 | $107,920 |
| Ohio | $97,570 | $46.91 | $80,620 | $105,990 | 670 | $105,170 |
| Florida | $97,310 | $46.78 | $80,070 | $110,640 | 1,740 | $94,098 |
| Kentucky | $95,470 | $45.90 | $75,360 | $117,540 | 270 | $105,891 |
| Michigan | $95,400 | $45.87 | $75,000 | $101,680 | 640 | $99,151 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,570 | $45.47 | $75,270 | $118,110 | 740 | $96,923 |
| Iowa | $92,890 | $44.66 | $80,090 | $105,970 | 150 | $105,843 |
| Oklahoma | $90,640 | $43.58 | $72,110 | $103,490 | 200 | $103,184 |
| South Carolina | $90,230 | $43.38 | $76,820 | $102,760 | 280 | $96,246 |
| Louisiana | $87,670 | $42.15 | $69,040 | $105,050 | 170 | $99,391 |
| North Carolina | $85,240 | $40.98 | $67,080 | $103,980 | 600 | $90,367 |
| Tennessee | $84,470 | $40.61 | $68,640 | $108,020 | 390 | $91,945 |
| Arkansas | $83,670 | $40.23 | $58,130 | $103,220 | 190 | $96,242 |
| Mississippi | $83,340 | $40.07 | $64,880 | $101,800 | 160 | $95,845 |
| Alabama | $82,630 | $39.73 | $64,150 | $100,310 | 320 | $93,028 |
| South Dakota | $82,010 | $39.43 | $39,090 | $101,940 | 140 | $92,577 |
| Wyoming | $81,900 | $39.38 | $78,580 | $119,660 | 40 | $88,358 |
| West Virginia | $76,460 | $36.76 | $65,570 | $101,300 | 150 | $85,433 |
| Kansas | $64,610 | $31.06 | $55,310 | $104,100 | 380 | $71,735 |
BLS does not publish pay for nuclear medicine technologists in 2 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Nuclear medicine technologist salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes nuclear medicine technologist pay: 98 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- San Jose, CA $198,950
- San Francisco, CA $189,790
- Sacramento, CA $173,260
- Modesto, CA $172,530
- Fresno, CA $163,380
- San Diego, CA $162,380
- Los Angeles, CA $156,410
- Riverside, CA $150,870
- Seattle, WA $133,380
- Bridgeport, CT $128,560
Where the pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA $180,171
- Modesto, CA $165,722
- San Francisco, CA $164,160
- Sacramento, CA $162,426
- Fresno, CA $159,929
- San Diego, CA $145,129
- Riverside, CA $141,739
- Los Angeles, CA $137,726
- New Haven, CT $120,487
- Portland, OR $120,479
All 98 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $198,950 | 100 | $180,171 | 23% |
| San Francisco, CA | $189,790 | 170 | $164,160 | 22% |
| Sacramento, CA | $173,260 | 130 | $162,426 | 16% |
| Modesto, CA | $172,530 | 30 | $165,722 | 14% |
| Fresno, CA | $163,380 | 50 | $159,929 | 15% |
| San Diego, CA | $162,380 | 110 | $145,129 | 22% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $156,410 | 460 | $137,726 | 22% |
| Riverside, CA | $150,870 | 160 | $141,739 | 20% |
| Seattle, WA | $133,380 | 200 | $120,018 | 20% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $128,560 | 30 | $120,302 | 27% |
| Portland, OR | $127,010 | 100 | $120,479 | 17% |
| New Haven, CT | $125,980 | 30 | $120,487 | 19% |
| New York, NY | $125,340 | 940 | $111,351 | 34% |
| Boston, MA | $123,450 | 290 | $114,025 | 29% |
| Denver, CO | $118,110 | 100 | $111,654 | 19% |
| Hartford, CT | $115,230 | 60 | $112,150 | 21% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $113,670 | 30 | $112,872 | 19% |
| Worcester, MA | $111,400 | 40 | $108,659 | 23% |
| Washington, DC | $109,900 | 250 | $100,933 | 26% |
| Chicago, IL | $108,860 | 480 | $105,082 | 24% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $107,380 | 130 | $102,440 | 19% |
| Austin, TX | $107,300 | 80 | $109,416 | 18% |
| Houston, TX | $107,230 | 320 | $108,721 | 18% |
| Green Bay, WI | $106,370 | 30 | $114,271 | 13% |
| Omaha, NE | $105,610 | 60 | $114,905 | 16% |
| Dallas, TX | $105,590 | 250 | $102,425 | 19% |
| Louisville, KY | $105,460 | 90 | $113,308 | 15% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $105,450 | 110 | $108,782 | 18% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $104,750 | 90 | $104,525 | 20% |
| Lincoln, NE | $104,320 | 40 | $113,910 | 15% |
| Buffalo, NY | $104,180 | 70 | $108,697 | 17% |
| Providence, RI | $104,000 | 130 | $102,188 | 25% |
| Atlanta, GA | $103,900 | 310 | $103,840 | 21% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $103,730 | 80 | $108,395 | 18% |
| Columbus, OH | $103,510 | 100 | $108,423 | 18% |
| Allentown, PA | $103,270 | 70 | $103,303 | 21% |
| Boise, ID | $102,690 | 30 | $104,369 | 22% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $102,460 | 410 | $99,908 | 22% |
| St. Louis, MO | $102,170 | 160 | $107,448 | 17% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $101,630 | 50 | $103,021 | 17% |
| Orlando, FL | $101,150 | 240 | $99,736 | 23% |
| Tampa, FL | $101,120 | 290 | $100,228 | 24% |
| Rochester, NY | $100,930 | 50 | $104,014 | 18% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $100,700 | 70 | $100,471 | 28% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $100,640 | 110 | $101,162 | 20% |
| Baltimore, MD | $100,610 | 170 | $96,289 | 23% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $100,130 | 320 | $96,916 | 21% |
| Springfield, MO | $100,090 | 30 | $112,988 | 15% |
| Dayton, OH | $100,060 | 50 | $107,947 | 16% |
| Lakeland, FL | $100,060 | 50 | $103,005 | 22% |
| Madison, WI | $99,820 | 40 | $102,604 | 21% |
| Miami, FL | $99,810 | 400 | $87,434 | 32% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $99,640 | 130 | $101,735 | 23% |
| Charleston, SC | $99,620 | 60 | $98,671 | 25% |
| Cleveland, OH | $99,400 | 170 | $105,831 | 17% |
| Tucson, AZ | $99,080 | 50 | $102,254 | 18% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $98,400 | 40 | $102,987 | 18% |
| Detroit, MI | $98,160 | 300 | $97,868 | 19% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $97,890 | 130 | $102,642 | 19% |
| Gainesville, FL | $97,470 | 30 | $100,762 | 20% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $97,370 | 50 | $95,135 | 23% |
| San Antonio, TX | $97,370 | 80 | $102,802 | 17% |
| Tulsa, OK | $97,310 | 50 | $109,075 | 17% |
| Richmond, VA | $97,300 | 80 | $99,430 | 21% |
| Wilmington, NC | $96,620 | 30 | $100,205 | 22% |
| Toledo, OH | $96,150 | 50 | $105,134 | 16% |
| Naples, FL | $96,050 | 40 | $93,072 | 33% |
| Huntington, WV | $95,470 | 30 | $107,971 | 14% |
| New Orleans, LA | $95,250 | 30 | $102,865 | 20% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $95,140 | 60 | $99,575 | 20% |
| Deltona, FL | $94,810 | 40 | $95,414 | 22% |
| Nashville, TN | $94,500 | 100 | $98,092 | 23% |
| Raleigh, NC | $92,670 | 70 | $94,410 | 22% |
| Charlotte, NC | $92,630 | 130 | $95,153 | 22% |
| North Port, FL | $91,950 | 130 | $89,780 | 27% |
| Greenville, SC | $91,490 | 50 | $98,102 | 21% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $91,350 | 70 | $99,247 | 20% |
| Lexington, KY | $90,990 | 30 | $97,956 | 21% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $90,640 | 100 | $100,257 | 18% |
| Pensacola, FL | $90,460 | 70 | $92,573 | 23% |
| Jackson, MS | $89,270 | 50 | $100,249 | 20% |
| Little Rock, AR | $89,200 | 50 | $99,816 | 17% |
| Columbia, SC | $87,480 | 60 | $93,400 | 21% |
| Kansas City, MO | $87,380 | 280 | $94,421 | 21% |
| Augusta, GA | $87,170 | 40 | $94,850 | 20% |
| Flint, MI | $87,060 | 30 | $93,579 | 14% |
| Charleston, WV | $86,780 | 30 | $97,817 | 17% |
| Birmingham, AL | $85,700 | 90 | $93,514 | 20% |
| Palm Bay, FL | $84,700 | 50 | $84,696 | 27% |
| Memphis, TN | $84,470 | 90 | $91,637 | 20% |
| Huntsville, AL | $83,390 | 40 | $89,597 | 20% |
| Tallahassee, FL | $83,360 | 30 | $88,757 | 21% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $83,330 | 30 | $90,598 | 21% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $82,830 | 120 | $87,492 | 21% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $82,770 | 40 | $90,495 | 22% |
| Knoxville, TN | $82,620 | 60 | $89,252 | 25% |
| Montgomery, AL | $82,620 | 30 | $92,126 | 20% |
| Wichita, KS | $64,610 | 90 | $72,640 | 22% |
What the median nuclear medicine technologist salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $101,370 |
| Month | $8,448 |
| Every two weeks | $3,899 |
| Week | $1,949 |
| Hour | $48.74 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a nuclear medicine technologist: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | None |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +4.4% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 800 |
| Self-employed | 0.6% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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Questions about nuclear medicine technologist pay
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make an hour?
The median is $48.74 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37.54 and the top 10% over $64.66.
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make a month?
About $8,448 a month before taxes at the median salary of $101,370, or $3,899 every two weeks.
What state pays nuclear medicine technologists the most?
California, with a median of $162,380. Washington ($126,200), Hawaii ($125,650), New Jersey ($124,280) and Oregon ($122,100) follow.
Where do nuclear medicine technologists make the most after cost of living?
California: its median of $162,380 is worth $146,658 at typical US prices. Oregon, Washington and Nebraska come next.
How much do entry-level nuclear medicine technologists make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of nuclear medicine technologists earn under $78,080 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $86,720, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a nuclear medicine technologist?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as an associate's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: none.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 29-2033 (Nuclear Medicine Technologists). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.