Radiographer

What does a radiographer do?

• Position patients and equipment correctly to produce clear images.
• Operate X-ray, CT, MRI and fluoroscopy equipment, and in some countries ultrasound.
• Keep radiation doses as low as possible and protect patients and staff.
• Check image quality and pass images to radiologists for reporting.
• Explain procedures to patients and reassure those who are anxious or in pain.
• Plan and deliver radiotherapy for cancer patients, if working in therapeutic radiography.
• Take images in emergency departments, operating theatres and on wards using mobile equipment.

Where do they work?

Most radiographers work in hospital imaging departments, and they also work in emergency departments, operating theatres and on wards. Others work in private imaging centres, cancer treatment centres, breast screening services, sports clinics and research. Some work for equipment manufacturers, training hospital staff to use new machines. Because hospitals need imaging at all hours, shifts, nights, weekends and on-call duties are common. The job involves a lot of standing, moving equipment and helping patients into position.

What skills do you need?

• Knowledge of anatomy and imaging physics
• Radiation safety
• Operating complex technical equipment
• Precision and attention to detail
• Caring communication with patients
• Working quickly in emergencies
• Teamwork with doctors and nurses
• Digital and IT skills

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• apply context specific clinical competences
• prepare patients for imaging procedures
• communicate effectively in healthcare
• post-process medical images
• promote inclusion
• apply radiation protection procedures
• follow clinical guidelines
• operate medical imaging equipment
• adhere to organisational code of ethics
• listen actively
• maintain imaging equipment
• apply organisational techniques

Essential knowledge: hygiene in a health care setting · medical oncology · medical terminology · evidence-based radiography practice · human anatomy · radiobiology · first aid · pharmaceutical products

How do you become a radiographer?

In many countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, you need a bachelor's degree in diagnostic or therapeutic radiography or medical radiation science, typically three to four years, with clinical placements in hospitals. In the United States, the most common route is a two-year associate degree in radiologic technology, followed by a national certification exam, and some countries, such as Germany, use vocational training. Graduates in other sciences can sometimes take a two-year graduate-entry master's. After qualifying, you register with the national or state regulator. Specialist roles, such as MRI or reporting on images, usually need further training.

1. Radiography degree. A bachelor's degree in diagnostic or therapeutic radiography typically lasts three to four years and covers anatomy, imaging physics, radiation protection and patient care, with long placements in hospitals. It is the standard route in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other countries. You usually choose diagnostic or therapeutic radiography from the start.
2. College programme. In the United States and Canada, many radiologic technologists and radiation therapists train through college programmes, such as a two-year associate degree in the United States or a college diploma in Canada, followed by a national certification exam. This route is shorter, but a bachelor's degree can help later with management or specialist roles.
3. Graduate-entry master's or apprenticeship. If you already have a science degree, some countries, including the UK, offer two-year graduate-entry master's courses in radiography. In the UK, apprenticeships also allow imaging assistants to train as radiographers while working. These routes suit career changers who want to build on previous study or earn while they train.

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Do you need a licence to work as a radiographer?

Radiography is a regulated profession in most countries because it involves using radiation on patients. You usually need an approved qualification and registration with a national or state regulator before you can practise. In the United States, most states require a licence, and many rely on a national certification exam. Rules about who may carry out ultrasound, MRI or image reporting differ between countries. Check the local regulator, especially if you plan to work abroad.

How much does a radiographer earn?

Pay in the United States

• $80,110Median annual wage, May 2025
• $55,980–$118,660Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-2034, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes radiographer and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Newly qualified or junior radiographer
2. Radiographer
3. Specialist radiographer, for example in CT or MRI
4. Advanced practitioner or reporting radiographer
5. Imaging service manager or consultant radiographer

Job outlook

Use of medical imaging keeps growing, for diagnosis, guiding treatment and cancer screening, and ageing populations add to demand. Many countries report shortages of radiographers and long waits for scans. AI tools are being introduced to help read images and manage workloads, which is likely to change some tasks rather than remove the need for radiographers. The work involves shift patterns and physical strain, and strict radiation safety rules must always be followed.

Questions about becoming a radiographer

What is the difference between a radiographer and a radiologist?

A radiographer takes the images, operates the equipment, positions patients and keeps radiation use safe. A radiologist is a medical doctor who has specialised in interpreting images and diagnosing disease, and who may carry out image-guided procedures. The two work closely together. In some countries, experienced radiographers with extra training also report on certain types of images.

How long does it take to become a radiographer?

In most countries it takes three to four years to complete a degree in radiography. In the United States, an associate degree in radiologic technology usually takes about two years, followed by a certification exam. Specialising in areas such as MRI, CT or ultrasound usually needs further training and experience after you qualify.

Is being a radiographer dangerous?

Radiation risk is kept very low by strict safety rules. Radiographers use shielding, stand behind protective screens, keep their distance from radiation sources and wear badges that monitor their exposure. MRI does not use X-rays but has powerful magnets with their own safety rules. Pregnant radiographers usually have extra protection and may change their duties.

Do radiographers do ultrasound?

It depends on the country. In the UK and some other countries, many sonographers are radiographers who have taken postgraduate training in ultrasound. In the United States, Canada and Australia, ultrasound is usually a separate profession called diagnostic medical sonography, with its own courses and certification. Check the local routes if ultrasound is your main interest.

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 29-2034, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2269.8

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a radiographer: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/radiographer/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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