Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Occupation · SOC 29-2034.00
Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.
Also called: Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Tech) · Radiographer · Radiologic Technologist (RT) · X-Ray Technologist (X-Ray Tech) · Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) · Imaging Technologist (Imaging Tech) · Mammographer · Radiology Technician (Radiology Tech) · Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R)) · X-Ray Technician (X-Ray Tech) · 3D Technologist · Angiogram Special Procedures Technologist
Job family: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-29-2034-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+4.3% by 2034)
- 12,900 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $77,660/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
39th-percentile task overlap — yet about 12,900 openings a year (+4.3% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 33rd | -0.6 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 60th | 0.8 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 31st | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.0), with simple added tooling (β 0.4), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.8). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan. | 0.3% | |
| Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes. | 0.2% | |
| Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports. | 0.2% | |
| Maintain a current file of examination protocols. | 0.2% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +4.3% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 12,900 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 228,000 → 237,800 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians sits at the 40th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure rose from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
22% mean task exposure (2025)
40th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+2 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Equipment Technicians · 3211 | 22% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 30 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination. Core · importance 5.0
- Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician. Core · importance 4.9
- Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician. Core · importance 4.9
- Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan. Core · importance 4.9
- Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes. Core · importance 4.9
- Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff. Core · importance 4.9
- Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians. Core · importance 4.9
- Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist. Core · importance 4.8
- Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods. Core · importance 4.8
- Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside. Core · importance 4.7
- Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards. Core · importance 4.7
- Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes. Core · importance 4.7
- Operate digital picture archiving communications systems. Core · importance 4.7
- Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician. Core · importance 4.6
- Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures. Core · importance 4.6
- Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports. Core · importance 4.6
- Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories. Core · importance 4.5
- Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images. Core · importance 4.5
- Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest. Core · importance 4.4
- Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready. Core · importance 4.4
- Transport patients to or from exam rooms. Core · importance 4.4
- Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance. Core · importance 4.3
- Maintain a current file of examination protocols. Core · importance 4.2
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films. Core · importance 4.2
- Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor. Core · importance 4.1
- Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals. Core · importance 3.9
- Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill, injured, or disabled patients. Core · importance 3.8
- Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists and technicians.
- Perform supervisory duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules.
- Provide students or other technicians and technologists with suggestions of additional views, alternate positioning, or improved techniques to ensure the images produced are of the highest quality.
Work activities
- Check quality of diagnostic images.
- Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
- Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
- Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
- Position patients for treatment or examination.
- Process x-rays or other medical images.
- Verify that medical activities or operations meet standards.
- Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
- Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
- Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
- Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
- Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
- Create advanced digital images of patients using computer imaging systems.
- Maintain medical facility records.
- Move patients to or from treatment areas.
- Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care.
- Assist healthcare practitioners during examinations or treatments.
- Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities.
- Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
- Perform clerical work in medical settings.
- Train medical providers.
- Prepare medications or medical solutions.
- Supervise patient care personnel.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
- Manage healthcare operations.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.3 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.2 | |
| English Language | 4.1 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.9 | |
| Administrative | 3.5 | |
| Education and Training | 3.4 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.3 | |
| Psychology | 3.3 | |
| Physics | 3.2 | |
| Biology | 3.1 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.0 | |
| Near Vision | 4.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.9 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.6 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.6 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.6 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.5 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.5 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.5 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.1 | |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.1 | |
| Visualization | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.1 | |
| Control Precision | 3.1 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 | |
| Speaking | 3.5 | |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | |
| Writing | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.5 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 | |
| Coordination | 3.1 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Health Professions and Related Programs . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 72.8% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 16.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10.6% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Interest areas
| Health Care Service | 6.0 | |
| Medical Science | 3.8 | |
| Physical Science | 3.0 | |
| Engineering | 2.9 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 2.6 | |
| Life Science | 2.3 | |
| Information Technology | 2.3 | |
| Personal Service | 2.1 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 5.9 | |
| Conventional | 5.1 | |
| Investigative | 4.9 | |
| Social | 3.4 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 5.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 4.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 3.0 | |
| Cooperation | 2.3 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $52,360 |
| 25th percentile | $62,910 |
| Median (50th) | $77,660 |
| 75th percentile | $93,610 |
| 90th percentile | $106,990 |
| People employed | 223,460 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 205,960 | $77,310 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 7,080 | $81,380 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 5,140 | $81,950 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 1,400 | $83,980 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 860 | $73,520 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 830 | $88,790 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists · National industry | 630 | $64,450 |
| Offices of Chiropractors · National industry | 300 | $47,380 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 270 | $76,430 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers · National industry | 80 | $66,320 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | — | $78,960 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 6.15× | 205,960 |
| Offices of Chiropractors · National industry | 1.42× | 300 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 1.34× | 5,140 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services · National industry | 1.09× | 270 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists · National industry | 0.91× | 630 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.54× | 7,080 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 0.2× | 830 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 0.07× | 1,400 |
Related occupations
Part of the Healthcare & Human Services career cluster.
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians · 29-2031.00 Compare →
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers · 29-2032.00 Compare →
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists · 29-2035.00 Compare →
- Radiation Therapists · 29-1124.00 Compare →
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists · 29-2099.01 Compare →
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists · 29-2033.00 Compare →
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists · 29-2099.05 Compare →
- Endoscopy Technicians · 31-9099.02 Compare →
- Surgical Technologists · 29-2055.00 Compare →
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians · 29-2012.00 Compare →
- Radiologists · 29-1224.00 Compare →
- Cardiologists · 29-1212.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Associate's degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Health Professions and Related Programs · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 40th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians show 39th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 12,900 annual U.S. openings
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians rank in the 39th percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 12,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+4.3%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $77,660, across about 223,460 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians show 39th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 12,900 annual U.S. openings • Radiologic Technologists and Technicians rank in the 39th percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 12,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+4.3%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $77,660, across about 223,460 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Radiologic Technologists and Technicians". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2034-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Radiologic Technologists and Technicians." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2034-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Radiologic Technologists and Technicians. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2034-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-29-2034-00,
title = {Radiologic Technologists and Technicians},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2034-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.