Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Nuclear Medicine Technologists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$101,370
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$48.74
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$134,500
entry level starts ~$78,080
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 17,000 employed

How much does a Nuclear Medicine Technologist make?

A Nuclear Medicine Technologist earns a median annual salary of $101,370 in the United States, which works out to roughly $48.74 per hour for full-time work. Most Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn between $78,080 at the entry level and $134,500 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $86,720 and $117,120 a year.

That is $39,980 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Nuclear Medicine Technologist salary range by percentile

Half of all Nuclear Medicine Technologists earn between $86,720 and $117,120 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$78,080$37.54
25th percentile (early career)$86,720$41.69
50th percentile (median)$101,370$48.74
75th percentile (experienced)$117,120$56.31
90th percentile (top earners)$134,500$64.66

Highest-paying states for Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Nuclear Medicine Technologist pay at $162,380 a year, followed by Washington ($126,200) and Hawaii ($125,650). At the other end, Kansas posts the lowest median at $64,610 — a gap of $97,770 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$162,380$78.07+60%
2Washington$126,200$60.67+24%
3Hawaii$125,650$60.41+24%
4New Jersey$124,280$59.75+23%
5Oregon$122,100$58.70+20%

Workforce and education

About 17,000 people work as Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $105,160 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Nuclear Medicine Technologist make in the United States?
The median Nuclear Medicine Technologist salary in the United States is $101,370 per year, or about $48.74 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $78,080, while the top 10% of earners make $134,500 or more.
How does Nuclear Medicine Technologist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Nuclear Medicine Technologist median of $101,370 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Nuclear Medicine Technologists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Nuclear Medicine Technologists, with a median salary of $162,380 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?
Becoming a Nuclear Medicine Technologist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Nuclear Medicine Technologists work in the United States?
About 17,000 people were employed as Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.