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Salary comparison

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians vs. Registered Nurses: Who Earns More?

Registered Nursess out-earn Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss by $17K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss land at $80,110 and Registered Nursess at $97,550. The education gap is real: radiologic technologists and technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while registered nurse programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss is California ($121,260); for Registered Nursess it's California ($140,270).

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Registered Nurses
Median salary
$80,110
$97,550
Hourly rate
$38.52/hr
$46.9/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$55,980
$68,940
Senior level (90th %)
$118,660
$137,470
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
230,490
3,379,720
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.9%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
California
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Radiologic Technologists and Technicians median pay.

State
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Registered Nurses
California
$121,260
$140,270
Massachusetts
$103,620
$104,550
District of Columbia
$102,770
$102,540
Oregon
$102,290
$129,010
Washington
$102,090
$124,200
Hawaii
$101,700
$136,320
Alaska
$98,920
$109,480
New York
$98,470
$109,440
New Jersey
$95,000
$106,500
Connecticut
$91,970
$102,740
Colorado
$87,760
$100,260
Maryland
$85,890
$99,790
Rhode Island
$85,330
$100,640
Minnesota
$83,400
$101,510
Nevada
$82,910
$103,670

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss or Registered Nursess?

Registered Nursess earn more nationally. The median is $80,110 for Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss versus $97,550 for Registered Nursess, a difference of $17K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians or Registered Nurses?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians or Registered Nurses?

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Registered Nurses requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss at $121,260/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Radiologic Technologists and Technicians vs. Registered Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss earn $121,260 vs. $140,270 for Registered Nursess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Radiologic Technologists and Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Registered Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Radiologic Technologists and Technicianss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Registered Nursess by take-home payExplore →How to become a radiologic technologists and techniciansGuide →How to become a registered nursesGuide →