X-Ray Technician Salary
X-ray technicians perform diagnostic imaging examinations, positioning patients and operating radiographic equipment under physician direction.
Salary by percentile
Annual salaries for X-Ray Technician by percentile, based on BLS OEWS — May 2025 data (2025).
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Salary by state
| Location | Median annual | Median hourly | Mean annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,700 | $29 | $60,800 | 3,500 |
| Alaska | $98,920 | $48 | $96,670 | 370 |
| Arizona | $89,200 | $43 | $90,020 | 4,670 |
| Arkansas | $63,640 | $31 | $67,880 | 2,210 |
| California | $121,260 | $58 | $117,950 | 20,900 |
| Colorado | $87,760 | $42 | $89,470 | 3,960 |
| Connecticut | $91,970 | $44 | $93,530 | 3,230 |
| Delaware | $84,210 | $40 | $83,340 | 650 |
| District of Columbia | $102,770 | $49 | $98,860 | 660 |
| Florida | $76,750 | $37 | $74,760 | 16,470 |
| Georgia | $74,550 | $36 | $76,120 | 7,540 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 | $49 | $93,140 | 690 |
| Idaho | $80,080 | $39 | $79,940 | 1,490 |
| Illinois | $79,930 | $38 | $80,770 | 7,650 |
| Indiana | $77,640 | $37 | $74,980 | 5,470 |
| Iowa | $65,930 | $32 | $69,640 | 2,550 |
| Kansas | $76,070 | $37 | $74,580 | 2,270 |
| Kentucky | $69,670 | $34 | $72,840 | 3,630 |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | $31 | $66,240 | 3,370 |
| Maine | $80,080 | $39 | $80,760 | 1,050 |
| Maryland | $85,890 | $41 | $88,260 | 3,370 |
| Massachusetts | $103,620 | $50 | $101,910 | 5,500 |
| Michigan | $76,420 | $37 | $74,020 | 7,220 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | $40 | $87,270 | 4,910 |
| Mississippi | $59,300 | $29 | $59,090 | 2,510 |
| Missouri | $73,080 | $35 | $73,150 | 5,170 |
| Montana | $77,070 | $37 | $74,610 | 850 |
| Nebraska | $72,860 | $35 | $74,600 | 1,670 |
| Nevada | $82,910 | $40 | $88,620 | 1,840 |
| New Hampshire | $84,910 | $41 | $87,410 | 1,240 |
| New Jersey | $95,000 | $46 | $93,240 | 6,320 |
| New Mexico | $79,940 | $38 | $79,810 | 1,150 |
| New York | $98,470 | $47 | $99,000 | 13,450 |
| North Carolina | $74,450 | $36 | $74,770 | 9,250 |
| North Dakota | $67,790 | $33 | $72,690 | 740 |
| Ohio | $78,320 | $38 | $76,890 | 9,570 |
| Oklahoma | $74,160 | $36 | $72,490 | 3,640 |
| Oregon | $102,290 | $49 | $99,630 | 2,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,050 | $37 | $74,740 | 8,090 |
| Rhode Island | $85,330 | $41 | $88,750 | 660 |
| South Carolina | $69,600 | $33 | $71,970 | 3,630 |
| South Dakota | $65,240 | $31 | $69,740 | 980 |
| Tennessee | $64,630 | $31 | $68,990 | 4,660 |
| Texas | $78,630 | $38 | $78,060 | 20,250 |
| Utah | $81,000 | $39 | $81,930 | 1,780 |
| Vermont | $94,540 | $45 | $91,630 | 470 |
| Virginia | $80,670 | $39 | $83,160 | 5,140 |
| Washington | $102,090 | $49 | $100,900 | 4,130 |
| West Virginia | $74,150 | $36 | $73,780 | 1,810 |
| Wisconsin | $79,140 | $38 | $79,400 | 5,010 |
| Wyoming | $77,860 | $37 | $79,080 | 430 |
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.
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