We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Radiography Jobs?

By Brenda Scott
Updated: Mar 02, 2024
Views: 31,530
Share

Radiography is the process of making film records of internal structures through the use of radioactive waves. The radiographer shoots x-rays, gamma rays, or neutrons through an object, where the beam is absorbed unevenly, depending upon the density of the tissue it passes through. The emerging rays register an image, called a radiograph, on photographic film. Radiography jobs are available in several industries, though the primary job market is in the medical field. Jobs range from x-ray technicians, requiring one to two years of training, to medical doctors with various specialties.

Industrial radiography uses x-ray and gamma rays to inspect internal areas of structures for voids, cracks, distortions or other imperfections. Radiography jobs are available in all forms of transportation production, such as automobiles, marine vessels, airplanes and space craft. Nuclear facilities offer radiography positions to technicians who are trained in non-destructive test methods such as magnetic particle (MT), dye penetrant (PT), ultrasonic thickness (UTf), and radiographic (RT) tests. Oil production sites also use radiographers to test welds on oil extraction equipment.

The entry level radiography jobs are usually x-ray technician positions, which generally require certification and at least two-years of college training. Technicians prepare patients for filming and operate x-ray equipment. Knowledge of anatomy and imagining technology is necessary in order to obtain the best pictures. Additional training is needed to operate specialized equipment like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound, nuclear medicine, angiography and fluoroscopy.

Therapeutic radiography positions are available in almost all aspects of oncology treatment. These technicians, also referred to as radiation therapists, use advanced technology to direct beams of radiation at tumors. This job usually requires at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree, since a knowledge of physics, biology, anatomy and physiology is required.

Radiographers with good mechanical skills may wish to become medical imaging technical services technologists. The technologist performs quality control testing on radiography equipment, evaluates imaging protocols, and works with imaging systems and databases. These radiography positions require familiarity with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements in order to make certain that the equipment is calibrated to regulatory guidelines.

A radiologist is a physician whose specialty is in radiography and reads and interprets the x-rays and other tests administered by technicians. Radiography jobs are available to physicians in a multitude of disciplines, ranging from cardiology, to neurology and vascular interventional radiology.

Advances in medical diagnosis, nuclear medicine and therapeutic treatments have created an abundance of radiography jobs. Some countries, like the UK, actively advertise for foreign-trained radiographers to help fill the shortage. If a person is interested in health care work in a cross-cultural setting, training in radiology may offer that opportunity.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By RomperMan6 — On May 09, 2014
@epikal - I totally agree.

I am currently working as a nurse assistant so I am looking into entering the medical field as a radiology technician due to the job growth projections and starting salaries.

Since an associate degree will allow me to qualify for an entry-level position, I can find a job as a radiology tech and continue my education part-time to get a bachelor's degree.

By epikal — On May 08, 2014

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for radiography jobs is expected to grow by 21% over the next 10 years.

I think this job would be ideal for a recent high school graduate interested in the medical field or someone just looking for a career change.

Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-are-the-different-radiography-jobs.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.