anyone here a Radiology tech

[T2urtle]

I'm considering a career in Radiology, mainly as a X-ray tech.

I was wondering if this field is dieing out or what. Obviously all the schools are pushing all of their programs and everyone states the demand is high for just about every career out there.

The community college i'm attending right now has their own specialty program to radiology. So far reading the little booklet i['m really liking it. And seriously considering it. Its not the best paying job in the world but it is some pretty interesting stuff. Maybe i can start off being just a x-ray tech and slowly make my way into becoming a MRI tech.

I dont know people in this field at all, the people i know are mainly pharmacy techs and CNA/RN and etc. They dont know too much knowledge on what goes on other then what the general public knows.

 

[MoPHo]

A friend's mom was an X-Ray tech. She used to get copies of the x-rays to keep. At family gatherings, she would show the bottles, buzz saws, etc. that people had put up their hole(s) (sans their names)...It was pretty sweet.

Sorry this doesn't really contribute but I felt it was necessary. And a rightful violation of HIPPA.

 

[T2urtle]

lol, i guess as long as no names or numbers were on the x-rays it wouldn't be a direct violiation of HIPPA =)

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
lol, i guess as long as no names or numbers were on the x-rays it wouldn't be a direct violiation of HIPAA =)

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
I'm considering a career in Radiology, mainly as a X-ray tech.

I was wondering if this field is dieing out or what. Obviously all the schools are pushing all of their programs and everyone states the demand is high for just about every career out there.

The community college i'm attending right now has their own specialty program to radiology. So far reading the little booklet i['m really liking it. And seriously considering it. Its not the best paying job in the world but it is some pretty interesting stuff. Maybe i can start off being just a x-ray tech and slowly make my way into becoming a MRI tech.

I dont know people in this field at all, the people i know are mainly pharmacy techs and CNA/RN and etc. They dont know too much knowledge on what goes on other then what the general public knows.

Imaging is a huge part of medicine. This field is only going to grow. Pay is good. Go for it!

 

[Exterous]

Don't do ultrasound imaging! My friend is a ultrasound tech at a large hospital. Apparently you have to put that probe in some nasty places. She's been pissed on, farted on, shit on and ejaculated on. Also the people who need to have their neathers probed typically aren't in very good shape - as in very very (very) obese. She is trying to become a X-ray tech although (IIRC) the requirements are more and the position is much harder to get into (Ultrasound tech jobs are easy to find around here)

 

[vi edit]

Imaging is probably one of the most most expanding areas of a hospital and there's a need for techs. But everyone and their brother is trying to get into the schools that I know of. Most schools around me are 2+ year waiting lists. And with the recession, hospitals are taking a serious hit and aren't offering as many jobs. Not sure on the placement of rad techs out of school, but it's certainly not what it was 3 years ago.

I'm more on the IT side of imaging admistering the image servers and backend of the imaging applications so I'm pretty familiar with that side of it.

But from what I can tell from my interaction with the Xray techs it must not be too bad of a gig. I've talked to a whole host of other clinical staff and they are by far the most friendly and relaxed that I have to support. A much different attitude than nurses, cardiology staff, and other types of techs. Maybe it's all the radiation they are exposed to

If you can get into a school and get placed afterwards it's probably going to be a decent career. Just know that it's fairly capped as far as advancement. You can go from basic tech, to advanced stuff like MR/CT, and then maybe to a tech lead/management position but there's only one or two of those jobs in any given hospital. Once hit that level you are just doing incremental cost of living (assuming you get a raise that year) increases until you retire.

 

[SP33Demon]

They make 60K+ a year. For 2-3 years of school at a community college, it's an awesome deal.

 

[Gand1]

Originally posted by: vi edit
Imaging is probably one of the most most expanding areas of a hospital and there's a need for techs. But everyone and their brother is trying to get into the schools that I know of. Most schools around me are 2+ year waiting lists. And with the recession, hospitals are taking a serious hit and aren't offering as many jobs. Not sure on the placement of rad techs out of school, but it's certainly not what it was 3 years ago.

I'm more on the IT side of imaging admistering the image servers and backend of the imaging applications so I'm pretty familiar with that side of it.

But from what I can tell from my interaction with the Xray techs it must not be too bad of a gig. I've talked to a whole host of other clinical staff and they are by far the most friendly and relaxed that I have to support. A much different attitude than nurses, cardiology staff, and other types of techs. Maybe it's all the radiation they are exposed to

If you can get into a school and get placed afterwards it's probably going to be a decent career. Just know that it's fairly capped as far as advancement. You can go from basic tech, to advanced stuff like MR/CT, and then maybe to a tech lead/management position but there's only one or two of those jobs in any given hospital. Once hit that level you are just doing incremental cost of living (assuming you get a raise that year) increases until you retire.

VI, are you a PACS admin?

 

[skyking]

I support a mobile imaging company. The mobile techs have a good gig, they are not stuck in a clinic and get to drive around.

 

[xchangx]

Originally posted by: Gand1

Originally posted by: vi edit
Imaging is probably one of the most most expanding areas of a hospital and there's a need for techs. But everyone and their brother is trying to get into the schools that I know of. Most schools around me are 2+ year waiting lists. And with the recession, hospitals are taking a serious hit and aren't offering as many jobs. Not sure on the placement of rad techs out of school, but it's certainly not what it was 3 years ago.

I'm more on the IT side of imaging admistering the image servers and backend of the imaging applications so I'm pretty familiar with that side of it.

But from what I can tell from my interaction with the Xray techs it must not be too bad of a gig. I've talked to a whole host of other clinical staff and they are by far the most friendly and relaxed that I have to support. A much different attitude than nurses, cardiology staff, and other types of techs. Maybe it's all the radiation they are exposed to

If you can get into a school and get placed afterwards it's probably going to be a decent career. Just know that it's fairly capped as far as advancement. You can go from basic tech, to advanced stuff like MR/CT, and then maybe to a tech lead/management position but there's only one or two of those jobs in any given hospital. Once hit that level you are just doing incremental cost of living (assuming you get a raise that year) increases until you retire.

VI, are you a PACS admin?

Haha, I used to be a PACS admin...

Get in the field as a x-ray tech then try to get into Nuc Med. From what I've seen, they make a ton of $$.

 

[lokiju]

My wife is a x-ray tech full time and has been for the past 4-5 years now.

She started off at a hospital but the hours sucked so is now working at a large Dr's office, which is nice since she gets off weekends and works normal hours.

I can have her reply to this thread if you have any questions for her.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
They make 60K+ a year. For 2-3 years of school at a community college, it's an awesome deal.

This is exactly why I'm on course to become one. I went back to college as a 29-year old, because I didn't like the field I'm currently in (advertising). I'm like... I need something new, pays decent and preferably involves tech. I couldn't find a better "deal" than becoming a rad tech. I'm crossing my fingers that it will ultimately pay off. Career changes are scary!

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Gand1

VI, are you a PACS admin?

By duties and responsibility but sadly not by pay & title.

 

[xchangx]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: Gand1

VI, are you a PACS admin?

By duties and responsibility but sadly not by pay & title.

What system do you guys have?

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: xchangx

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: Gand1

VI, are you a PACS admin?

By duties and responsibility but sadly not by pay & title.

What system do you guys have?

I set up a pacsone server for archiving only. No one really uses it with viewers.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

what do xray techs cap out at salary wise?
and what are the dangers of being in close proximity of xrays daily?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: xchangx

Originally posted by: Gand1

Originally posted by: vi edit
Imaging is probably one of the most most expanding areas of a hospital and there's a need for techs. But everyone and their brother is trying to get into the schools that I know of. Most schools around me are 2+ year waiting lists. And with the recession, hospitals are taking a serious hit and aren't offering as many jobs. Not sure on the placement of rad techs out of school, but it's certainly not what it was 3 years ago.

I'm more on the IT side of imaging admistering the image servers and backend of the imaging applications so I'm pretty familiar with that side of it.

But from what I can tell from my interaction with the Xray techs it must not be too bad of a gig. I've talked to a whole host of other clinical staff and they are by far the most friendly and relaxed that I have to support. A much different attitude than nurses, cardiology staff, and other types of techs. Maybe it's all the radiation they are exposed to

If you can get into a school and get placed afterwards it's probably going to be a decent career. Just know that it's fairly capped as far as advancement. You can go from basic tech, to advanced stuff like MR/CT, and then maybe to a tech lead/management position but there's only one or two of those jobs in any given hospital. Once hit that level you are just doing incremental cost of living (assuming you get a raise that year) increases until you retire.

VI, are you a PACS admin?

Haha, I used to be a PACS admin...

Get in the field as a x-ray tech then try to get into Nuc Med. From what I've seen, they make a ton of $$.

One of my bosses (I work for two research labs for quantitative image analysis) is a Nuc Med Physicist. He definitely makes big bucks, but then he's a double phd in nuclear physics and something else.

I dunno how much more the techs make, but it's certainly higher level of position compared to x-ray tech, since they're operating PET scanners.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: xchangx

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: Gand1

VI, are you a PACS admin?

By duties and responsibility but sadly not by pay & title.

What system do you guys have?

I set up a pacsone server for archiving only. No one really uses it with viewers.

Our clinical PACS is Siemens (switched from GE last year), but we also use TeraRecon for certain purposes in our lab. I know another lab is running Osirix viewers, I think they're running dcm4chee as server. I've actually written a couple simple java DICOM utilities using the dcm4che2 toolkit.

I'll have to check out PacsOne.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
They make 60K+ a year. For 2-3 years of school at a community college, it's an awesome deal.

Easily to claim something as fact...

Median annual earnings of radiologic technologists were $48,170 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,840 and $57,940. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $68,920. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of radiologic technologists in 2006 were:



Medical and diagnostic laboratories $51,280
General medical and surgical hospitals $48,830
Offices of physicians $45,500

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
They make 60K+ a year. For 2-3 years of school at a community college, it's an awesome deal.

Easily to claim something as fact...

Median annual earnings of radiologic technologists were $48,170 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,840 and $57,940. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $68,920. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of radiologic technologists in 2006 were:



Medical and diagnostic laboratories $51,280
General medical and surgical hospitals $48,830
Offices of physicians $45,500

Entry level XR Tech is probably in the mid 30's to low 40's depending on facility, shift, and overtime you work. But Nuke Med stuff gets you starting out in the low 50's and Ultrasound stuff can get you into the 80's depending on facility and experience. Good ultrasound techs are well paid because it's an actual skill knowing how to properly control the wand for optimal image quality.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
They make 60K+ a year. For 2-3 years of school at a community college, it's an awesome deal.

Easily to claim something as fact...

Median annual earnings of radiologic technologists were $48,170 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,840 and $57,940. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $68,920. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of radiologic technologists in 2006 were:



Medical and diagnostic laboratories $51,280
General medical and surgical hospitals $48,830
Offices of physicians $45,500

Entry level XR Tech is probably in the mid 30's to low 40's depending on facility, shift, and overtime you work. But Nuke Med stuff gets you starting out in the low 50's and Ultrasound stuff can get you into the 80's depending on facility and experience. Good ultrasound techs are well paid because it's an actual skill knowing how to properly control the wand for optimal image quality.

Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $48,890 and $67,670 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,520. Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers in May 2006 were $56,970 in offices of physicians and $56,850 in general medical and surgical hospitals.

Median annual earnings of nuclear medicine technologists were $62,300 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,530 and $72,410. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $82,310. Median annual earnings of nuclear medicine technologists in 2006 were $61,230 in general medical and surgical hospitals.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: MoPHo
A friend's mom was an X-Ray tech. She used to get copies of the x-rays to keep. At family gatherings, she would show the bottles, buzz saws, etc. that people had put up their hole(s) (sans their names)...It was pretty sweet.

Sorry this doesn't really contribute but I felt it was necessary. And a rightful violation of HIPPA.

:laugh:

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: MoPHo
A friend's mom was an X-Ray tech. She used to get copies of the x-rays to keep. At family gatherings, she would show the bottles, buzz saws, etc. that people had put up their hole(s) (sans their names)...It was pretty sweet.

Sorry this doesn't really contribute but I felt it was necessary. And a rightful violation of HIPPA.

:laugh:

I've seen some amazing stuff as well. One girl aspirated her nose ring during a spring break binge, which completely block airflow to her left lung (due to mucous and inflammation). It was interesting growing a 3D airway model so the pulmonologists could "fly-through" her airways before scoping her.

Saw a guy whose entire torso was riddled with buckshot. Makes the CT scans unusable for quantitative analysis due to "ray scatter" artifacting from all the metal.

Sadly, I've also seen scans with so much cancer or other disease (especially MS lesions in some brain scans), that you have to wonder how the person is at all alive and cognitive. Those scans kind of depress you.

 

[jtvang125]

My brother came out with a cert in that field from the local CC and started out making more than I am with my BS in the IT field.