Occupation Summary

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

O*NET 29-2034.00

Description:

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

Annual Wages:
$72,467.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 19.20%.
Education Level:
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes.
  2. Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
  3. Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician.
  4. Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods.
  5. Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff.
  6. Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination.
  7. Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan.
  8. Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians.
  9. Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images.
  10. Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories.
  11. Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards.
  12. Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready.
  13. Operate digital picture archiving communications systems.
  14. Transport patients to or from exam rooms.
  15. Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician.
  16. Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures.
  17. Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside.
  18. Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports.
  19. Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician.
  20. Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities.
  21. Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor.
  22. Maintain a current file of examination protocols.
  23. Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films.
  24. Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance.
  25. Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist.
  26. Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest.
  27. Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals.
  28. Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists and technicians.
  29. Perform supervisory duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules.
  30. Provide students or other technicians and technologists with suggestions of additional views, alternate positioning, or improved techniques to ensure the images produced are of the highest quality.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Radiologic Technologists and Technicians employed Annual Growth Rate
General medical and surgical hospitals 57.2 0.13
Offices of physicians 18.3 0.48
Medical and diagnostic laboratories 7.3 1.34
Outpatient care centers 6.9 3.12


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $34.84
2023 National average hourly wage $36.18
2022 National employment 222,800
2022 Texas employment 18,785
Texas projected employment by 2032 22,392
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 1,432




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
85.40%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
83.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
82.80%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
77.60%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
70.00%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
68.00%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
66.20%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
66.00%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
63.60%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
62.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
75.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
72.40%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
70.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
70.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
70.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
67.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
65.00%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
65.00%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
62.40%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
72.40%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
72.40%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
72.40%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
70.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
70.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
70.00%


  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Documenting/Recording Information
    -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital imaging communications in medicine DICOM standard system equipment: Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM imaging equipment; Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM system equipment;

Electrocardiography EKG units: Electrocardiography EKG units;

Electronic blood pressure units: Electronic blood pressure units;

Enema kits: Enema equipment;

Hypodermic needle: Hypodermic needles; Intramuscular needles; Venipuncture needles; Subcutaneous hypodermic needles;

Intravenous or arterial extension tubing: Intravenous IV tubing;

Intravenous or arterial tubing adapter or connector: Intravenous IV locks;

Magnetic tape recorders: Magnetic tape recorders;

Medical c arm x ray units: Mobile image amplifier C-arms;

Medical cinefluoroscopy units: Fluoroscopes;

Medical computed tomography CT or CAT 3 dimensional system components: Computed tomography CT audio and visual intercommunication systems;

Medical computed tomography CT or CAT scanners or tubes: Computed tomography CT scanners; High-speed multislice computed tomography CT scanners; Positron emission tomography/computed tomography PET/CT scanners;

Medical imaging contrast agent injector: Power injectors;

Medical imaging wet darkroom or daylight processors: Film processing equipment;

Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI 3 dimensional system components: Magnetic resonance imaging MRI audio and visual intercommunication systems;

Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI scanners: Medical magnetic resonance imaging MRI equipment;

Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS: Image capturing and transmission systems; Picture archiving and communication systems PACS;

Medical radiation films or badges: Radiation measurement badges;

Medical radiographic equipment grids: Grids;

Medical radiological positioning aids for general radiological use: Patient immobilization devices; Patient immobilizing devices; Straps; Sandbags; Compression bands; Cushions;

Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes: Radiation protection devices; Lead shields/shielding equipment;

Medical syringes without needle: Syringes; Intravenous IV syringes;

Medical ultrasound or doppler or pulse echocardiograph or echocardiograph units for general diagnostic use: Portable ultrasound scanners; Diagnostic ultrasound equipment;

Medical x ray apparatus filters: Filters; X ray beam restriction devices; X ray filters;

Medical x ray darkroom accessories: Automatic x ray film processors; Self-contained film processors; Tabletop film processors; X ray film processors; Portable film processors;

Medical x ray film archiving system software: Scan converters; Image storage systems;

Medical x ray films or cassettes: Film cassettes;

Medical x ray intensifying screens: Intensifying screens; Image intensifiers; X ray image intensifier television systems; X ray imaging charge-coupled device CCD cameras;

Medical x ray quality assurance or calibration devices: X ray calipers;

Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use: Portable x ray machines; Stationary x ray equipment; X ray machines;

Mercury blood pressure units: Mercury blood pressure units;

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated defibrillators;

Notebook computers: Notebook computers;

Oxygen therapy delivery system products: Oxygen equipment;

Peripherally inserted central catheters PICC: Over-the-needle intravenous IV catheters;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Radiographic film or cassette changers: Rapid film changers;

Radiographic locators: Cylinders; Diaphragms; Cones;

Tablet computers: Tablet computers;

Tourniquets: Tourniquets;

X ray bone densitometers: X ray bone densitometers; Portable densitometers; Digital transmission densitometers;

X ray diffraction equipment: Collimators;


Technology

Categorization or classification software: Diagnostic and procedural coding software;

Data base user interface and query software: Structured data entry software;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Information retrieval or search software: Information systems integration software;

Medical software: Internet or intranet image distribution software; Medical condition coding software; Medical procedure coding software; Medical software; MEDITECH software; Practice management software PMS; Diagnostic image review software; Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM software/modality management software; eClinicalWorks EHR software; Electronic medical record EMR software; Film processor tracking and management software; GE Healthcare Centricity EMR; GE Healthcare ViewPoint Solutions; Information management subsystem software; Virtual reality computed tomography CT imaging software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians include:
  • 29-2031.00 Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
  • 29-2032.00 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
  • 31-9099.02 Endoscopy Technicians
  • 29-2035.00 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
  • 29-2012.00 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
  • 29-2099.01 Neurodiagnostic Technologists
  • 29-2033.00 Nuclear Medicine Technologists
  • 29-2099.05 Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
  • 29-1124.00 Radiation Therapists
  • 29-2055.00 Surgical Technologists

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.