California · BLS SOC 29-2034
Radiologic Technologist salary in California
Median $98,830 · Top 10% earn $145,880+ · Roughly 26,108 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- California median
- $98,830
- $47.51/hr
- Top 10%
- $145,880
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $64,630
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $86,845
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)
California pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for radiologic technologists — $98,830 versus the national median of $76,020. Even after adjusting for California's high cost of living, the real pay still leads the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 26,108 radiologic technologists.
What drives radiologic technologist pay in California
California rad tech pay is the highest in the U.S., with Bay Area MRI techs at academic medical centers (UCSF, Stanford, UCLA) clearing $130K+. Specialty modality credentialing adds the largest premium of any state.
Top-paying metros in California
California-area metropolitan areas with the highest radiologic technologist medians.
California metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $119,800 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $124,800 |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $113,700 |
| 4 | Vallejo, CA | $121,200 |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,100 |
California ranks #1 of 50 states
Where California sits in the national distribution for radiologic technologist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California (this page) | $98,830 | — |
| #2 | Washington | $92,740 | −$6,090 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $91,980 | −$6,850 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $89,700 | −$9,130 |
Find Radiologic Technologist programs near you
We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.
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Education path for California
The typical path is a associate degree (most common); arrt certification required in most states, taking about 24 months. Tuition ranges from $6,000 (community college) to $40,000 (private accelerated). On the California median of $98,830, payback periods are typically 0.6 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.
For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Radiologic Technologist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.
Radiologic Technologist salary in California — FAQ
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Methodology note
California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2034: Radiologic Technologists and Technicians), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.