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X-Ray Technician Salary

X-ray technicians perform diagnostic imaging examinations, positioning patients and operating radiographic equipment under physician direction.

Salary at a glance
High confidence · sourced
Median annual salary for X-Ray Technician

$80,110

Mean annual

$83,840

Median hourly

$39

Typical range

$64,810 – $98,750

25th–75th percentile

Employed in US

230,490

Estimate

Reference year

2025

BLS OEWS — May 2025

Based on BLS OEWS — May 2025 data for January 2025.Wages are estimates; actual pay varies by employer, experience and location.

Salary by percentile

Annual salaries for X-Ray Technician by percentile, based on BLS OEWS — May 2025 data (2025).

Estimate your X-Ray Technician salary

Estimate your salary
Estimates use official BLS wage data as the base, then apply conservative adjustments. Results are estimates, not official data.

Enter your details to see an estimated salary range, hourly wage, percentile and a suggested negotiation range.

Salary by state

LocationMedian annualMedian hourlyMean annualEmployed
Alabama$60,700$29$60,8003,500
Alaska$98,920$48$96,670370
Arizona$89,200$43$90,0204,670
Arkansas$63,640$31$67,8802,210
California$121,260$58$117,95020,900
Colorado$87,760$42$89,4703,960
Connecticut$91,970$44$93,5303,230
Delaware$84,210$40$83,340650
District of Columbia$102,770$49$98,860660
Florida$76,750$37$74,76016,470
Georgia$74,550$36$76,1207,540
Hawaii$101,700$49$93,140690
Idaho$80,080$39$79,9401,490
Illinois$79,930$38$80,7707,650
Indiana$77,640$37$74,9805,470
Iowa$65,930$32$69,6402,550
Kansas$76,070$37$74,5802,270
Kentucky$69,670$34$72,8403,630
Louisiana$63,680$31$66,2403,370
Maine$80,080$39$80,7601,050
Maryland$85,890$41$88,2603,370
Massachusetts$103,620$50$101,9105,500
Michigan$76,420$37$74,0207,220
Minnesota$83,400$40$87,2704,910
Mississippi$59,300$29$59,0902,510
Missouri$73,080$35$73,1505,170
Montana$77,070$37$74,610850
Nebraska$72,860$35$74,6001,670
Nevada$82,910$40$88,6201,840
New Hampshire$84,910$41$87,4101,240
New Jersey$95,000$46$93,2406,320
New Mexico$79,940$38$79,8101,150
New York$98,470$47$99,00013,450
North Carolina$74,450$36$74,7709,250
North Dakota$67,790$33$72,690740
Ohio$78,320$38$76,8909,570
Oklahoma$74,160$36$72,4903,640
Oregon$102,290$49$99,6302,700
Pennsylvania$76,050$37$74,7408,090
Rhode Island$85,330$41$88,750660
South Carolina$69,600$33$71,9703,630
South Dakota$65,240$31$69,740980
Tennessee$64,630$31$68,9904,660
Texas$78,630$38$78,06020,250
Utah$81,000$39$81,9301,780
Vermont$94,540$45$91,630470
Virginia$80,670$39$83,1605,140
Washington$102,090$49$100,9004,130
West Virginia$74,150$36$73,7801,810
Wisconsin$79,140$38$79,4005,010
Wyoming$77,860$37$79,080430

Salary by metro area

Metro-level data for this occupation is not available yet.

Key skills

  • Radiographic imaging

    Importance 4.8/5 · Level 4.3/5 · negotiation lever

  • Radiation safety

    Importance 4.6/5 · Level 3.9/5 · negotiation lever

  • Patient positioning

    Importance 4.5/5 · Level 4.0/5 · negotiation lever

  • Patient care

    Importance 4.2/5 · Level 3.8/5

  • Equipment operation

    Importance 4.3/5 · Level 4.1/5

  • Infection control

    Importance 4.0/5 · Level 3.6/5

Career path

  • Advancement$16,400/yr difference (est.)
    MRI Technologist

    ARRT certification in MRI and typically 1–2 years of radiography experience.

    Typical timeline: 1–3 years

How to negotiate your salary as a X-Ray Technician

Know the numbers for X-Ray Technician

The national median salary for X-Ray Technician is $80,110 per year. Most full-time X-Ray Technicians earn between $64,810 and $98,750.

In your location the median is $80,110. Use your local median — not the national one — when you set a target.

A realistic range to ask for

A strong ask is $64,810 to $108,625 for a new offer, and roughly 4–7% above the local median when negotiating a raise as an existing employee.

Anchor high enough that your walk-away number still lands inside the employer's range — but stay defensible with market data from this page.

Your specific leverage as a X-Ray Technician

Bring these X-Ray Technician-specific points to the table:

Radiographic imaging

Radiation safety

Patient positioning

License or board certification (e.g., state license, BLS/ACLS)

Specialty or modality — scarce skills command more

Shift differential (nights, weekends, on-call)

Patient load and case complexity you already handle

Lead with the two or three where you have the strongest, most recent evidence.

Quantify your work — don't just describe it

For X-Ray Technician, money talks in measurable outcomes. Prepare three numbers before the conversation:

What you delivered in the last 12 months (volume, throughput, error reduction)

What it was worth to the employer (saved hours, avoided cost, faster turnaround)

The gap between your current pay and this page's median for X-Ray Technician

Script for a new offer

"Based on the median for X-Ray Technician in this market ($80,110), and my experience with [top skill], I'm targeting $100,725. Is there flexibility in the base to get closer to that?"

If the base is fixed, shift the conversation to the levers above: for a healthcare role, ask about shift differential, certification pay, or the sign-on structure.

Script for a raise at your current job

"I've been at [result] for the past year. Market data for X-Ray Technician shows the median at $80,110, and I'd like to bring my base to $84,116 to reflect that. What can we do?"

Schedule the conversation around a performance review or after a completed project, and give your manager the market data a week in advance.

If the base won't move, negotiate the whole package

When base salary is capped, these often still have room:

Sign-on bonus, relocation, or tuition reimbursement (common in healthcare)

Extra paid time off or a compressed/remote schedule

Professional development — certifications that raise your X-Ray Technician market rate next year

Get everything in writing, including how often pay is reviewed.

Common mistakes

Giving a number before hearing the employer's offer or range.

Anchoring to the national median when your local median is different.

Arguing from personal need ('I need this to cover rent') instead of market data.

Not using the leverage points above because they weren't prepared.

Forgetting that the first offer is a starting point — there is usually room, especially in specialty or shift roles.

Estimate your target salary with the salary calculator

Figures reference the X-Ray Technician salary data on this page. Negotiation ranges are illustrative and not an official guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

How much do X-ray technicians make an hour?

The median hourly wage for radiologic technologists is shown at the top of this page, from the latest BLS OEWS release. Entry-level techs earn below the median; experienced techs in the top quarter earn well above it.

How much do X-ray technicians make an hour?

The median hourly wage for radiologic technologists and technicians is about $31.90, per the most recent BLS OEWS data. Entry-level techs earn closer to $20 per hour; experienced techs in the top quarter earn over $38 per hour.

Do X-ray technicians earn more than surgical technologists?

Yes — radiologic technologists have a higher median annual wage than surgical technologists, per BLS OEWS. You can compare the median figures on each job's page.

Do X-ray technicians earn more than surgical technologists?

On average, yes. The median annual wage for radiologic technologists is roughly $66,300 versus about $60,100 for surgical technologists, per BLS OEWS.

Data sources and methodology

Salary figures reference BLS OEWS — May 2025 (2025). Employment counts and percentiles come from the same dataset.

Read our methodology · See all data sources

Last updated: August 5, 2026