Highest Paid X-Ray Technician Salary by Region

The health care industry continues to expand and grow due to the increased number of aging patients. Over the next ten years, hospitals and clinics are expected to increase in number by nearly 20%. Due to the projected expansion, highly specialized fields of medicine and patient care are becoming more and more prevalent.

The pay scale is following along the same line as growth by steadily increasing. X-ray technicians once started out earning $30,000-$40,000 per approximately five to ten years ago and today are earning well over $60,000 on average per year.

Earnings vary by state and region. Some of the highest paying states for x-ray technicians are Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and Nevada. Some of the states offer a high cost of living as well as high earning potential. Hawaii is one of the highest paying states for x-ray technicians at nearly $80,000 annually for mid-level employment in the field.

By region, the salaries for x-ray techs can be categorized with the following:

· West Coast

Along the west coast, northern California cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Fremont offer their x-ray technicians somewhere in the neighborhood of $72,000 per year. The area is one of the highest paid regions for x-ray professionals. The numbers can be a bit misconstrued due to the high cost of living required in the area. However, the earnings rate is higher than the national average.

· East Coast

Along the east coast, cities such as Boston, New York City, Peabody, and Quincy offer some of the highest paid positions in the field of x-ray technology. X-ray techs earn more than $70,000 each year which is well above the national average for the field. Many specialty sub-fields are available which provide top earning positions.

· Hawaii

Although not considered a region, Hawaii is as far west as one can get when examining salaries in the United States. X-ray techs earn on average $80,000 per year. Some x-ray techs who have been employed for over ten years earn well above six figures. Most top earners in the region have at a minimum their bachelor's degree while some of the highest paid x-ray technicians possess their master's degree. While the cost of living is extremely high in Hawaii, the average pay for x-ray technicians is well above the national average.

The National Average Salary for X-Ray Technicians

The national average pay for x-ray technicians is approximately $55,000 per year, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009. The pay scale fluctuates by region and state with the lowest paying regions offering $35,000 per year for entry level positions and the highest paid states offering $70,000.

Location, work setting and advancement are the main criteria affecting the national average in terms of pay for x-ray techs. Higher costs of living seem to determine the rate of pay for this position. Depending on what type of industry and work environment also causes the pay scale to fluctuate. More and more positions are opening up outside of hospitals and medical clinics that offer advancement and pay increases.

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