Radiology Tech Salary in 2026: Hourly Pay, Take-Home and Pay by State
Last updated 10/31/2026 by
SuperMoney Team
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
The median radiology tech earns $80,110 a year ($38.52 an hour), according to May 2025 BLS data. After 2026 federal taxes, that’s about $5,432 a month for a single filer. Pay ranges from a median of $59,300 in Mississippi to $121,260 in California.
Data as of: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, the most recent release. Take-home figures use 2026 federal tax rules. Updated October 2026.
Two techs graduate from the same two-year radiography program. One spends the next decade taking X-rays at a doctor’s office, where the median pay is $74,540. The other picks up an MRI credential and moves to a hospital imaging center, where MRI technologists earn a median of $95,480. Same starting point, and about $21,000 a year apart.
Across the U.S., the median radiology tech (the BLS calls them radiologic technologists and technicians) earns $80,110 a year, or $38.52 an hour. Below you’ll find what that pays by the hour and after taxes, how it varies across all 50 states and what moves the number up.
How much does a radiology tech make?
| Pay period | Median | Average (mean) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $38.52 | $40.31 |
| Weekly | $1,541 | $1,612 |
| Every two weeks | $3,081 | $3,225 |
| Monthly | $6,676 | $6,987 |
| Yearly | $80,110 | $83,840 |
The median is the middle: half of radiology techs earn more and half earn less. The average is higher because top earners pull it up. Figures are for wage and salary workers and don’t include self-employed radiology techs, tips, overtime premiums or benefits. About 230,490 radiology techs were on payrolls in May 2025.
Want to see the same math for any pay rate? Our hourly to salary chart converts every rate from $7.25 to $100 an hour, and $38 an hour a year and $80,000 a year an hour break down the numbers closest to this job.
Radiology Tech pay range: entry level to top earners
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% | $55,980 | $26.91 |
| 25th percentile | $64,810 | $31.16 |
| Median (50th) | $80,110 | $38.51 |
| 75th percentile | $98,750 | $47.48 |
| Top 10% | $118,660 | $57.05 |
How radiology techs raise their pay
- Add a modality. MRI technologists earn a median of $95,480, about $15,370 more than the median radiology tech. The BLS notes technologists can be certified in multiple specialties, such as CT, MRI or mammography.
- Pick the setting. Outpatient care centers pay a median of $84,720, versus $74,540 in physician offices.
- Take the shifts others don’t. Imaging runs around the clock, and evening, overnight and weekend shifts often pay a differential on top of the base rate.
- Move, or travel. State medians run from about $59,000 to about $121,000 (see the table below). Travel techs take short contracts where hospitals are short-staffed.
Radiology Tech take-home pay in 2026
A $80,110 salary doesn’t land in your checking account as $80,110. Here’s what a single filer at the median keeps after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, using 2026 tax brackets and the $16,100 standard deduction.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $80,110 |
| Federal income tax | -$8,794 |
| Social Security and Medicare (FICA) | -$6,128 |
| Take-home pay, yearly | $65,187 |
| Take-home pay, monthly | $5,432 |
| Take-home pay, every two weeks | $2,507 |
That’s an all-in federal rate of about 18.6%, with each extra dollar taxed at 22% plus 7.65% FICA. State income tax comes out on top of this, from 0% in states like Texas, Florida and Washington to more than 5% of income in high-tax states. Pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance contributions lower your tax bill but also your paycheck.
Radiology Tech salary by state
Median pay by state, highest to lowest. State medians reflect local demand and cost of living, so a higher number doesn’t always mean more money left over.
| State | Median annual pay | Approx. hourly | vs. U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $121,260 | $58.30 | +51% |
| Massachusetts | $103,620 | $49.82 | +29% |
| Washington, D.C. | $102,770 | $49.41 | +28% |
| Oregon | $102,290 | $49.18 | +28% |
| Washington | $102,090 | $49.08 | +27% |
| Hawaii | $101,700 | $48.89 | +27% |
| Alaska | $98,920 | $47.56 | +23% |
| New York | $98,470 | $47.34 | +23% |
| New Jersey | $95,000 | $45.67 | +19% |
| Vermont | $94,540 | $45.45 | +18% |
| Connecticut | $91,970 | $44.22 | +15% |
| Arizona | $89,200 | $42.88 | +11% |
| Colorado | $87,760 | $42.19 | +10% |
| Maryland | $85,890 | $41.29 | +7% |
| Rhode Island | $85,330 | $41.02 | +7% |
| New Hampshire | $84,910 | $40.82 | +6% |
| Delaware | $84,210 | $40.49 | +5% |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | $40.10 | +4% |
| Nevada | $82,910 | $39.86 | +3% |
| Utah | $81,000 | $38.94 | +1% |
| Virginia | $80,670 | $38.78 | +1% |
| Idaho | $80,080 | $38.50 | -0% |
| Maine | $80,080 | $38.50 | -0% |
| New Mexico | $79,940 | $38.43 | -0% |
| Illinois | $79,930 | $38.43 | -0% |
| Wisconsin | $79,140 | $38.05 | -1% |
| Texas | $78,630 | $37.80 | -2% |
| Ohio | $78,320 | $37.65 | -2% |
| Wyoming | $77,860 | $37.43 | -3% |
| Indiana | $77,640 | $37.33 | -3% |
| Montana | $77,070 | $37.05 | -4% |
| Florida | $76,750 | $36.90 | -4% |
| Michigan | $76,420 | $36.74 | -5% |
| Kansas | $76,070 | $36.57 | -5% |
| Pennsylvania | $76,050 | $36.56 | -5% |
| Georgia | $74,550 | $35.84 | -7% |
| North Carolina | $74,450 | $35.79 | -7% |
| Oklahoma | $74,160 | $35.65 | -7% |
| West Virginia | $74,150 | $35.65 | -7% |
| Missouri | $73,080 | $35.13 | -9% |
| Nebraska | $72,860 | $35.03 | -9% |
| Kentucky | $69,670 | $33.50 | -13% |
| South Carolina | $69,600 | $33.46 | -13% |
| North Dakota | $67,790 | $32.59 | -15% |
| Iowa | $65,930 | $31.70 | -18% |
| South Dakota | $65,240 | $31.37 | -19% |
| Tennessee | $64,630 | $31.07 | -19% |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | $30.62 | -21% |
| Arkansas | $63,640 | $30.60 | -21% |
| Alabama | $60,700 | $29.18 | -24% |
| Mississippi | $59,300 | $28.51 | -26% |
Where radiology techs earn the most
| Industry | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Outpatient care centers | $84,720 |
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | $80,650 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | $78,400 |
| Offices of physicians | $74,540 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, median pay in the top industries employing radiology techs, May 2025.
How to budget on a radiology tech salary
Start with the take-home number, not the salary. At the median, that’s about $5,432 a month. A simple 50/30/20 split looks like this:
| Bucket | Share | Monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Needs (rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, minimum debt payments) | 50% | $2,716 |
| Wants (eating out, travel, subscriptions) | 30% | $1,630 |
| Savings and extra debt payoff | 20% | $1,086 |
If rent alone eats most of the $2,716 needs bucket, that’s the signal to trim wants or find a roommate, not to stop saving. The SuperMoney app makes this easier: link your checking, credit cards and loans, and it sorts your spending into categories so you can see which bucket is overflowing. It flags subscriptions you forgot about and tracks your net worth month to month. You can also ask Sense AI, the app’s built-in money coach, questions like “Can I afford a $2,000 apartment on my pay?” Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
Saving that 20% is what turns a good salary into wealth. To see where you stand, compare yourself with the median net worth by age and check how much you should have in your 401(k).
More salary guides:dental hygienist salary, electrician salary, flight attendant salary, sonographer salary, actuary salary, and what counts as a good salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a radiology tech make an hour?
The median radiology tech earns $38.52 an hour, based on May 2025 BLS data. The middle half earn between $31.16 and $47.48 an hour.
What is the starting salary for a radiology tech?
The BLS doesn’t track starting pay directly. The bottom 10% of radiology techs earn under $55,980 and the bottom 25% earn under $64,810, which is a reasonable range for new radiology techs.
Which state pays radiology techs the most?
California has the highest median at $121,260, followed by Massachusetts ($103,620) and Washington, D.C. ($102,770). Mississippi has the lowest at $59,300. High-paying states often have a higher cost of living, so compare pay to rent before you move.
How much does a radiology tech take home after taxes?
A single filer earning the $80,110 median takes home about $65,187 a year, or $5,432 a month, after federal income tax and FICA in 2026, before any state income tax or pre-tax deductions.
Do MRI techs make more than X-ray techs?
Yes. MRI technologists earn a median of $95,480, versus $80,110 for radiologic technologists and technicians, according to the BLS.
Is the job outlook good for radiology techs?
The BLS projects employment of radiology techs to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations.
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