Mid-Year Update
As we pass the midpoint of the year, it’s a good time to reflect on the current state of the medical imaging job market and share insights with our colleagues and friends in the field. Opportunities remain strong, but there are noticeable trends worth discussing.
Medical Imaging Job Availability and Scheduling
For those seeking new positions, there are still many attractive roles available. However, we are seeing a higher proportion of night shift and weekend openings. Day-shift positions are proving more difficult to secure and can be highly competitive. While full-time/permanent jobs are still abundant, many of the travel techs we’ve interviewed have mentioned that wages and other incentives have tapered off and implied that temporary contracts are not as lucrative as they were in recent years.
Medical Imaging Pay Trends
Compensation appears to have leveled off somewhat. While we have seen double digit increases in pay over the past 5-years, in a recent LinkedIn survey we conducted, most professionals reported raises under 5% this year. Some received as little as 2%, while others saw no increase at all.
Medical Imaging Demand by Modality
From our perspective, CT Technologists remain in the highest demand, with a steady stream of openings nationwide. MRI Technologists and Radiologic Technologists continue to have strong opportunities as well, while demand for Nuclear Medicine Technologists appears to be growing.
Geographic Pay Insights
The West Coast continues to offer some of the highest pay rates, particularly in California, Oregon, and Washington. However, the cost of living in these states—especially housing—remains a challenge. For professionals who are single or not looking to purchase a home, relocating west could still be an attractive option. Four of the five top paying states for Rad Techs are on the west coast, according to the Bureau of Labor. Our records tend to validate these findings.
In Florida, wages have shown noticeable improvement. After years of criticism over low pay rates, some facilities have increased salaries by 10–15%. Unfortunately, these gains are often offset by rising costs in real estate and home insurance, but the upward trend in wages is worth noting.
Sonography Job Market Concerns
Perhaps the most concerning trend is within Sonography. Many new graduates are struggling to secure their first positions, and even experienced sonographers are seeing fewer opportunities in certain regions. It seems that training programs have caught up with demand, leading to a surplus of candidates in states such as California, Florida, Ohio, and Texas.
For sonographers navigating this market, flexibility is essential. Being geographically open and pursuing additional registries—particularly the RVT/RVS alongside the general RDMS—can significantly increase marketability, especially at facilities with a strong focus on vascular studies. All this said, we have noticed an increase in job requisitions for Cardiac Sonographers, especially those who can also perform vascular studies.
Cross-Training Opportunities in Medical Imaging
One encouraging development is the growing availability of cross-training. While this has always been something we ask our clients about, it has almost become a necessity these days. Radiologic Technologists who expand their skills into CT and MRI in addition to general radiography are positioning themselves for far more opportunities than those who specialize in just one area. Facilities value multi-skilled technologists, and this trend is expected to continue.
For those interested in discussing the medical imaging job market, we hope you’ll reach out to one of our agents.
Contact us at: contact@rsghealth.com
Download our 2025 Compensation Review here
