Nuclear Medicine Technologists Salary
In Columbia, SC, nuclear medicine technologists earn $87,480 at the median, or about $42.06 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $93,402 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 23.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $87K actually covers in Columbia, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About nuclear medicine technologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for nuclear medicine technologists in Columbia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $101K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Columbia can be a reasonable trade-off for nuclear medicine technologists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nuclear medicine technologists in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $100K | $99K |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $91K | $98K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $104K | $104K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $93K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level nuclear medicine technologists (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nuclear Medicine Technologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $162K | +60% | 1,500 |
| Washington | $126K | +24% | 320 |
| Hawaii | $126K | +24% | 30 |
| New Jersey | $124K | +23% | 540 |
| Oregon | $122K | +20% | 180 |
| New York | $119K | +17% | 890 |
| Massachusetts | $118K | +17% | 380 |
| Connecticut | $117K | +16% | 170 |
| Colorado | $117K | +15% | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $117K | +15% | 30 |
| Utah | $112K | +10% | 120 |
| Nevada | $109K | +8% | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $108K | +6% | 60 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +6% | 200 |
| Illinois | $105K | +4% | 620 |
| Idaho | $105K | +3% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $104K | +3% | 120 |
| Maryland | $104K | +3% | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $104K | +3% | 110 |
| Indiana | $103K | +2% | 280 |
| North Dakota | $103K | +1% | 50 |
| Virginia | $102K | +0% | 430 |
| Texas | $101K | -0% | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $101K | -0% | 540 |
| Montana | $100K | -1% | 50 |
| Delaware | $100K | -1% | 70 |
| Arizona | $100K | -1% | 430 |
| Maine | $100K | -2% | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $98K | -3% | 390 |
| New Mexico | $98K | -3% | 70 |
| Missouri | $98K | -3% | 360 |
| Ohio | $98K | -4% | 670 |
| Florida | $97K | -4% | 1,740 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -6% | 270 |
| Michigan | $95K | -6% | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $95K | -7% | 740 |
| Iowa | $93K | -8% | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $91K | -11% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $90K | -11% | 280 |
| Louisiana | $88K | -14% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $85K | -16% | 600 |
| Tennessee | $84K | -17% | 390 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -17% | 190 |
| Mississippi | $83K | -18% | 160 |
| Alabama | $83K | -18% | 320 |
| South Dakota | $82K | -19% | 140 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -19% | 40 |
| West Virginia | $76K | -25% | 150 |
| Kansas | $65K | -36% | 380 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear medicine technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a nuclear medicine technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear medicine technologists in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear medicine technologists typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,925/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nuclear medicine technologist a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $87K here vs. $101K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for nuclear medicine technologists?
Columbia pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $87,480 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,760, and experienced nuclear medicine technologists can clear $97,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,496/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 23.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear medicine technologists salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nuclear medicine technologists salary is worth about $93,402 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear medicine technologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.