Healthcare · Career brief

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Nuclear Medicine Technologists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$101,370

High national median pay

2025 national median. Top quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

4.4%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

800

Low national opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Bottom quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Standing and helping patients move are common. Handling radioactive materials requires protective procedures and exposure monitoring.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is pay; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: Standing and helping patients move are common. Handling radioactive materials requires protective procedures and exposure monitoring.

Before choosing, compare:Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Radiation Therapists Respiratory Therapists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Nuclear Medicine Technologists with another field Explore rankings in Healthcare Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$101,370

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

4.4%employment growth800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

An associate degree in nuclear medicine technology is typical. Some certificate routes build on an existing healthcare qualification. Check clinical training, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements.

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

BLS qualification guidance · Reviewed September 6, 2026.

2025 employment

17,400

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Nuclear medicine technologists (29-2033).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Standing and helping patients move are common. Handling radioactive materials requires protective procedures and exposure monitoring.
Most work full time. Some settings require evenings, weekends, or on-call coverage.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Assisting and Caring for Others4.6
Working with Computers4.6
Documenting/Recording Information4.3
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.2
Getting Information4.2

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.0
Investigative5.6
Conventional5.2
Social3.1
Enterprising1.3
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Biology Physics Medicine and Dentistry Chemistry

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Nuclear medicine technologists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Working conditions and hours

Standing and helping patients move are common. Handling radioactive materials requires protective procedures and exposure monitoring.

Most work full time. Some settings require evenings, weekends, or on-call coverage.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 16, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options

Compare before committing

The useful question is not whether one field wins overall, but what changes when you choose a nearby path. Explore the full career guides for Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Radiation Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, Radiologic Technologist.