Nuclear medicine technologists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Nuclear medicine technologists in the United States earn a median salary of $101,370 per year — about $49 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 20K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
The role requires significant physical presence to prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, operate heavy machinery, and physically assist or position patients. While AI will likely automate the digital aspects of the job—such as optimizing image quality, calculating dosages, and streamlining record-keeping—the core clinical and manual tasks remain insulated from full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $198,950 | Above avg (110.4) | $180,171 |
| Modesto, CA | $172,530 | Above avg (104.1) | $165,722 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $189,790 | Above avg (115.6) | $164,160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $173,260 | Above avg (106.7) | $162,426 |
| Fresno, CA | $163,380 | Average (102.2) | $159,929 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $162,380 | Above avg (111.9) | $145,129 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $150,870 | Above avg (106.4) | $141,739 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $156,410 | Above avg (113.6) | $137,726 |
| New Haven, CT | $125,980 | Above avg (104.6) | $120,487 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $127,010 | Above avg (105.4) | $120,479 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $128,560 | Above avg (106.9) | $120,302 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,380 | Above avg (111.1) | $120,018 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $105,610 | Below avg (91.9) | $114,905 |
| Green Bay, WI | $106,370 | Below avg (93.1) | $114,271 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $123,450 | Above avg (108.3) | $114,025 |