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Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Radiologic Technologist: what changes?

Consider Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians if you want to conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. Consider Radiologic Technologist if you would rather take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Both list associate's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Radiologic Technologist. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$74,310
Route into the job
Associate's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
3,400
Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians brief

Radiologic Technologist

National median pay (2025)
$80,110
Route into the job
An associate degree with clinical training is typical. Check the program's full timeline, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements before estimating when you can start paid work.
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Physical work
Long periods on your feet, patient positioning, and sometimes lifting or turning patients.
Schedule and hours
Hospital imaging may require evening, weekend, or overnight coverage; outpatient schedules can differ.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
13,000
Know before you choose

Imaging is hands-on patient care. Ask about help with transfers and the staffing of the shifts you would actually work.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 6, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

What the workforce research adds

ASRT's 2025 staffing survey reported a 15.6% radiography vacancy rate, indicating continued staffing demand.

ASRT · 2025. Survey measures differ across careers; their percentages are not directly comparable. A national survey does not establish local hiring odds or the quality of a particular employer.

See the full Radiologic Technologist brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on annual openings

Radiologic Technologist is at 13,000 annual openings, compared with 3,400 annual openings for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

2

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on projected growth

Radiologic Technologist is at 5% projected growth, compared with 3.7% projected growth for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

3

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on median pay

Radiologic Technologist is at $80,110, compared with $74,310 for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

54.3/ 100

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

vs
67.7/ 100

Radiologic Technologist

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Radiologic Technologist

DimensionCardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansRadiologic Technologist
Median pay (2025)$74,310$80,110
Pay percentile63.9 percentile72.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)3.7%5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)3,40013,000
2025 employment64,500234,200
How you qualifyAssociate's degreeAn associate degree with clinical training is typical. Check the program's full timeline, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements before estimating when you can start paid work.
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 3
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
SchedulesVaries by employer and setting; ask about shifts, overtime, on-call work, and predictable hours.Hospital imaging may require evening, weekend, or overnight coverage; outpatient schedules can differ.
Physical workUnknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.Long periods on your feet, patient positioning, and sometimes lifting or turning patients.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians briefRead Radiologic Technologist brief

Try another comparison

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Radiation Therapists

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
$74,310 · 3.7% growth
Radiation Therapists
$105,310 · 2.8% growth
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Radiologic Technologist vs Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Radiologic Technologist
$80,110 · 5% growth
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
$96,590 · 13.9% growth
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Radiologic Technologist vs Registered Nurse

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Radiologic Technologist
$80,110 · 5% growth
Registered Nurse
$97,550 · 5.6% growth
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