How much do ct technologists make in 2026?
CT technologists are counted in the BLS radiologic technologists and technicians series: OEWS May 2025 gives the SOC 29-2034 national median as $80,110 a year ($38.52 an hour), with the bottom 10% near $55,980 and the top 10% at $118,660. The survey does not separate computed tomography from general radiography, and the distinction matters: CT requires post-primary ARRT certification on top of a radiography credential, runs around the clock in any hospital with an emergency department, and carries the trauma and stroke workload that makes night coverage unavoidable. Those three facts put CT technologists in the upper half of the pooled band. Above that, the reliable levers are cross-training — technologists credentialed in both CT and MRI are far harder to replace — and holding a night, weekend or call rota, which is where the $98,750 P75 becomes achievable. Employment is projected to grow 4.3% through 2034 with roughly 12,900 openings a year. → Full ct technologist career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $80,110 blends every experience level and every setting in this occupation. For pay by level alone, see Pay by Level below.
- CT Technologists earn a national median $80,110/yr ($38.52/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 29-2034); the P10 to P90 range is $55,980 to $118,660.
- BLS pools computed tomography with general radiography in SOC 29-2034, so CT technologists sit in the upper half of the $55,980 to $118,660 band rather than in a separate series.
- CT requires post-primary ARRT certification and runs 24 hours in any hospital with an emergency department, which is why night and call differentials are structural rather than optional.
- Cross-training into MRI or interventional work is the most reliable way to reach the $98,750 P75, because dual-modality technologists are much harder to replace.
US CT Technologist Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay by Level · BLS OEWS May 2025
How much do ct technologists earn at each level?
BLS OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation and does not break pay out by credential or practice level. The levels below distribute the published percentile range across the credential tiers this role actually hires at.
Level medians are aligned to the BLS OEWS May 2025 percentile distribution for SOC 29-2034; GlobalCybers does not yet publish a verified placement sample for this role, so no verified median is shown.
Methodology & Sources
How the numbers on this page are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 29-2034, United States national estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Level and certification medians: distributed across the published BLS percentile range for this SOC code (P10 through P90) according to the credential tiers this occupation actually hires at. They are modeled reference points, not separately surveyed wages.
State and metro figures: modeled — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers state wage index, and for metros by the published metro index for that state. They are estimates of local pay, not BLS state or metropolitan-area observations, and are labelled as modeled in the tables below.
No verified placement sample:GlobalCybers does not yet publish a placement median for this role, so no "verified" figure appears anywhere on this page.
Pay by Career Level
How much does a ct technologist earn at each career stage?
CT pay follows modality certification, cross-training and shift coverage rather than years alone. Each median is anchored to the BLS OEWS radiologic technologist distribution (SOC 29-2034).
By State
Which states pay ct technologists the most in 2026?
These are modeled state estimates — the BLS national radiologic technologist median scaled by the GlobalCybers state wage index — not BLS state observations. State radiographic licensure rules are the local variable: most states license radiographers and set standards for who may operate CT equipment and administer contrast, so scope and employability differ, and states with stricter licensure tend to pay certified technologists better.
6 of 51 state guides shown, ranked by median. Bar is relative to California ($92,130), the highest-paying state shown. See all role salary guides →
By Metro
Which cities pay ct technologists the most?
Modeled metro estimates: the national radiologic technologist median scaled by the state wage index and then by that state's published metro index. They estimate local wage levels and are not BLS metropolitan-area observations.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Nominal pay — weigh each metro against its cost of living before relocating.
Certification Impact
Which certifications raise a ct technologist’s pay the most?
Median annual pay before and after each credential, based on GlobalCybers placement data cross-referenced with BLS. License upgrades move the needle most; stackable certs add on top.
Impacts are not additive, the licensing rows share the same career ladder. Browse all 167 certifications →
Trade Comparison
How does ct technologist pay compare to related roles?
BLS OEWS national median across the closest trades. CT Technologists sit mid-pack on median but carry one of the widest P10–P90 spreads, licensing and specialization drive the upside.
BLS OEWS May 2025. Verify ct technologist wages on BLS.gov →
Take-Home Pay
What does a ct technologist actually take home after taxes?
The medians above are gross base wage.
Estimates use 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and 7.65% FICA. Actual take-home varies with filing status, deductions, and local tax.
FAQ
CT Technologist Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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