Radiologic Technologist vs Respiratory Therapists: Similar Pay, 5% vs 8.5% Growth

Radiologic Technologist vs Respiratory Therapists: what changes?

Consider Radiologic Technologist if you want to take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Consider Respiratory Therapists if you would rather assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Both list associate's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Radiologic Technologist and Respiratory Therapists. 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

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

Respiratory Therapists

National median pay (2025): $82,280
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: Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 8,600

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Respiratory Therapists brief

How the national numbers differ

Respiratory Therapists has the edge on projected growth

Respiratory Therapists is at 8.5% projected growth, compared with 5% projected growth for Radiologic Technologist.

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on annual openings

Radiologic Technologist is at 13,000 annual openings, compared with 8,600 annual openings for Respiratory Therapists.

Respiratory Therapists has the edge on median pay

Respiratory Therapists is at $82,280, compared with $80,110 for Radiologic Technologist.

67.7/ 100

Radiologic Technologist

70.5/ 100

Respiratory Therapists

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

Radiologic Technologist vs Respiratory Therapists

Dimension	Radiologic Technologist	Respiratory Therapists
Median pay (2025)	$80,110	$82,280
Pay percentile	72.4 percentile	74.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5%	8.5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	13,000	8,600
2025 employment	234,200	142,000
How you qualify	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.	Associate's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS 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.
Schedules	Hospital imaging may require evening, weekend, or overnight coverage; outpatient schedules can differ.	Varies by employer and setting; ask about shifts, overtime, on-call work, and predictable hours.
Physical work	Long periods on your feet, patient positioning, and sometimes lifting or turning patients.	Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

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

Read Radiologic Technologist brief Read Respiratory Therapists brief

Radiologic Technologist vs Respiratory Therapists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Radiologic Technologist

Respiratory Therapists

How the national numbers differ

Respiratory Therapists has the edge on projected growth

Radiologic Technologist has the edge on annual openings

Respiratory Therapists has the edge on median pay

Radiologic Technologist vs Respiratory Therapists

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