Career guide

How to become a radiologic technologist (rad tech)

Education, licensing, training, and outlook from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 projections), with BLS May 2025 pay.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Radiologic and MRI Technologists, read October 23, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

Typical entry-level education: associate's degree. Most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified. Few states require licensure for MRI technologists. Requirements vary by state. BLS median pay: $80,110 a year (May 2025).

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Quick facts

2025 Median Pay: $81,390 per year $39.13 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: See How to Become One
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2025: 278,100
Job Outlook, 2025 to 2035: 5% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2025 to 2035: 15,100

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, read October 23, 2026. Publisher page

Steps to become a radiologic technologist (BLS)

Radiologic technologists and MRI technologists typically need an associate’s degree. MRI technologists may start out as radiologic technologists. Most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified, but few states require licensure for MRI technologists. Regardless of state requirements, employers typically require or prefer to hire technologists who are certified.

Education

High school students who are interested in radiologic or MRI technology should take courses that focus on math and science, such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics.

An associate’s degree is the education typically required for radiologic and MRI technologists. There also are postsecondary education programs that lead to graduate certificates or bachelor’s degrees in healthcare and related fields and science technologies. Depending on the field of degree, education programs may include both academic study and clinical work. Coursework includes anatomy, pathology, patient care, radiation physics and protection, and image evaluation.

Some states require candidates for licensure to complete an accredited program.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

MRI technologists typically need less than 5 years of experience in a related occupation, most often from working as a radiologic technologist.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Most states require radiologic technologists to be licensed or certified. Few states require licensure for MRI technologists. Requirements vary by state.

To become licensed, technologists usually must graduate from an accredited program and either pass a certification exam from the state or obtain certification from a credentialing organization. Technologists may be certified in multiple specialties. For specific licensure requirements for radiologic technologists and MRI technologists, contact the state’s health board.

Employers typically require or prefer prospective technologists to be certified even if the state does not require it. Employers also may require or prefer that prospective technologists have certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS). Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One, read October 23, 2026. Publisher page

Job outlook, 2025 to 2035

Overall employment of radiologic and MRI technologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 15,300 openings for radiologic and MRI technologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

BLS employment projections
Occupation	SOC	Employment	Projected	Change %	Change
Radiologic technologists and technicians	29-2034	234,200	246,000	5%	11,800
Magnetic resonance imaging technologists	29-2035	43,900	47,300	8%	3,400

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Job Outlook, read October 23, 2026. Publisher page

Pay

Median pay, BLS May 2025
Role	Median annual	Median hourly
Radiologic Technologist	$80,110	$38.52
MRI Technologist	$95,480	$45.91

Highest-paying states: California ($121,260), Massachusetts ($103,620), District of Columbia ($102,770), Oregon ($102,290), Washington ($102,090).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Questions

What degree do you need to be a Radiologic Technologist?

BLS lists "Associate's degree" as the typical entry-level education.

Do radiologic technologists need a license?