Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Radioactive drugs are prepared to safety standards that limit exposure, doses are calculated and recorded, and the material is given intravenously under a physician's direction. A camera then maps how the tracer moves through the body, producing film or computer images the physician will read; cardiac function studies are processed on a computer as well. Every dose received, used, and disposed of is measured and logged. Patients hear the test steps and safety precautions and get help during the procedure. The work suits people who like careful measurement, radiation-safety routines, and explaining procedures while watching patients.
Typical education: Associate’s Degree (2-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$101'370
Median Wage Market Position
$101'370
What you might do
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals under a physician's direction
- Map tracer uptake with a nuclear camera
- Calculate and log doses given, used, and discarded
- Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals under radiation safety rules
- Produce computer or film images for the physician
- Explain the test and safety steps to patients
Skills that matter
- Calculating doses from the physician's order
- Safe handling of stock radiopharmaceuticals
- Mapping tracers with imaging cameras
- Walking patients through test precautions
- Processing cardiac function studies
- Tracking radiation received, used, and disposed
AI & the future of this role
Patient positioning, isotope handling, and real-time monitoring keep this work grounded in hands-on clinical practice that software alone cannot carry out. AI may assist with dose calculations and image review, yet licensing, liability, and in-person care still favor trained staff.
Does Nuclear Medicine Technologists fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details