Nuclear Medicine Technologist salary in the U.S.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the U.S. earn a median of $101,370 a year ($48.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,500 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $105,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nuclear medicine technologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,080 | $37.54 |
| 25th percentile | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| Median | $101,370 | $48.74 |
| 75th percentile | $117,120 | $56.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,500 | $64.66 |
| Average (mean) | $105,160 | $50.56 |
Half of nuclear medicine technologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,447.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,223.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,898.85 |
| Weekly | $1,949.42 |
| Hourly | $48.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $162,380 | 1,500 |
| Washington | $126,200 | 320 |
| Hawaii | $125,650 | 30 |
| New Jersey | $124,280 | 540 |
| Oregon | $122,100 | 180 |
| New York | $118,650 | 890 |
| Massachusetts | $118,250 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $117,150 | 170 |
| Colorado | $116,990 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $116,630 | 30 |
| Utah | $111,770 | 120 |
| Nevada | $109,150 | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $107,890 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $107,380 | 200 |
| Illinois | $104,950 | 620 |
| Idaho | $104,630 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $104,320 | 120 |
| Maryland | $104,150 | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | 110 |
| Indiana | $103,230 | 280 |
| North Dakota | $102,640 | 50 |
| Virginia | $101,820 | 430 |
| Texas | $101,170 | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $100,880 | 540 |
| Montana | $100,490 | 50 |
| Delaware | $100,470 | 70 |
| Arizona | $100,130 | 430 |
| Maine | $99,500 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $98,450 | 390 |
| New Mexico | $98,400 | 70 |
| Missouri | $98,010 | 360 |
| Ohio | $97,570 | 670 |
| Florida | $97,310 | 1,740 |
| Kentucky | $95,470 | 270 |
| Michigan | $95,400 | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,570 | 740 |
| Iowa | $92,890 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $90,640 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $90,230 | 280 |
| Louisiana | $87,670 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $85,240 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $84,470 | 390 |
| Arkansas | $83,670 | 190 |
| Mississippi | $83,340 | 160 |
| Alabama | $82,630 | 320 |
| South Dakota | $82,010 | 140 |
| Wyoming | $81,900 | 40 |
| West Virginia | $76,460 | 150 |
| Kansas | $64,610 | 380 |
| Puerto Rico | $52,930 | 240 |
Best-paying metro areas for nuclear medicine technologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $198,950 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $189,790 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $173,260 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $172,530 | 30 |
| Fresno, CA | $163,380 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $162,380 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $156,410 | 460 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $150,870 | 160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,380 | 200 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $128,560 | 30 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $127,010 | 100 |
| New Haven, CT | $125,980 | 30 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $125,340 | 940 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $123,450 | 290 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $118,110 | 100 |
Metro areas with the most nuclear medicine technologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 940 | $125,340 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 480 | $108,860 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 460 | $156,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 410 | $102,460 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 400 | $99,810 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 320 | $107,230 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 320 | $100,130 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 310 | $103,900 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 300 | $98,160 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 290 | $123,450 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 290 | $101,120 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 280 | $87,380 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 250 | $105,590 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 250 | $109,900 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 240 | $101,150 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $21.91 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2033. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for nuclear medicine technologists in the U.S. is $101,370 a year, or $48.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nuclear medicine technologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of nuclear medicine technologists in the U.S. earn at least $134,500 a year. The top 25% earn $117,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for nuclear medicine technologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,080 a year, and a quarter of nuclear medicine technologists earn $86,720 or less.
How many nuclear medicine technologists work in the U.S.?
About 17,080 nuclear medicine technologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.