Prevailing Wage for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

The prevailing wage for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034) is set by DOL and serves as the minimum an employer can pay a sponsored worker in this occupation. Whether your offer is for a Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) or a Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Tech), DOL assigns four experience levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$55K
$26.61/hr

Entry-level Radiologic Technologists and Technicians with limited experience, typically recent ARRT certificate holders performing routine projections under direct supervision. DOL assigns Level 1 to roles requiring basic, closely supervised work with a narrow scope of imaging modalities.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$63K
$30.36/hr

Qualified technologists with moderate experience performing standard radiographic and fluoroscopic procedures independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, covering staff techs in hospitals or outpatient imaging centers who work without close supervision.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$71K
$34.09/hr

Experienced imaging professionals who manage complex procedures, cross-train across modalities such as CT and mammography, or take on charge tech duties. DOL assigns Level 3 to roles requiring broader clinical judgment and some responsibility for training or quality assurance.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$79K
$37.86/hr

Senior or lead technologists with full competency across modalities, often holding specialty certifications. Level 4 covers roles with supervisory scope, protocol development responsibilities, or positions at academic medical centers requiring advanced independent judgment.

Prevailing Wage for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$23K/yr$115K/yr

What’s an OES area?

The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.

Top 10 cities · Level 1

1
Vallejo, CA
Vallejo, CA metro
$115K$55.26/hr
2
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$104K$50.14/hr
3
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$97K$46.42/hr
4
Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro
$93K$44.63/hr
5
Santa Maria, CA
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro
$86K$41.12/hr
6
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro
$85K$40.63/hr
7
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro
$83K$40.09/hr
8
Salinas, CA
Salinas, CA metro
$81K$38.90/hr
9
Merced, CA
Merced, CA metro
$81K$38.81/hr
10
Stockton, CA
Stockton-Lodi, CA metro
$79K$38.12/hr

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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Watch for SOC mismatches on imaging specialist titles

Titles like MRI Technologist or Nuclear Medicine Technologist file under different SOC codes with separate wage floors. If your offer letter says Radiographer or Imaging Tech, confirm the employer's LCA lists SOC 29-2034 so your wage is benchmarked against the correct prevailing wage.

Compare California metro wages before signing

The prevailing wage for this role in top California metros is more than double the floor in Puerto Rico metros. If you have offers in multiple locations, the L2 wage gap across those markets can be large enough to change which offer is actually the stronger total-compensation package.

Verify your modality scope determines your level

Employers filing at Level 1 or Level 2 for a tech performing CT, mammography, or fluoroscopy alongside routine X-ray may be under-leveling the role. Cross-modality scope typically supports a Level 3 determination, and accepting a lower-level filing can leave significant wage protection on the table.

Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history

Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Radiologic Technologists and Technicians on H-1B or green card petitions. Hospital systems and large outpatient imaging networks appear frequently in that history, helping you target sponsors before applying.

Jobs for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-2034.00 alongside Radiologic Technologists and Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Tech) Prevailing Wage

Computed Tomography Technologist (CT Tech) positions fall under SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist (DRT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Imaging Technologist (Imaging Tech) Prevailing Wage

Imaging Technologist (Imaging Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Mammographer Prevailing Wage

Mammographer positions fall under SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Radiographer Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Radiographer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Radiologic Technologist (RT) Prevailing Wage

Radiologic Technologist (RT) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Radiology Technician (Radiology Tech) Prevailing Wage

Radiology Technician (Radiology Tech) positions fall under SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R)) Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Registered Radiologic Technologist (RT (R)) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

X-Ray Technician (X-Ray Tech) Prevailing Wage

X-Ray Technician (X-Ray Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

X-Ray Technologist (X-Ray Tech) Prevailing Wage

X-Ray Technologist (X-Ray Tech) positions fall under SOC 29-2034.00 (Radiologic Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$55K
$26.61/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$63K
$30.36/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$71K
$34.09/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$79K
$37.86/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians?

DOL calculates the prevailing wage using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency assigns wages by SOC code, geographic area, and one of four experience levels. For LCA-based visas, employers must attest they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage before USCIS can approve the petition.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?

DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 as qualified and independent, Level 3 as experienced with broader judgment or charge responsibilities, and Level 4 as fully competent with senior or supervisory scope. Your level should match the actual duties in the job description. If your role involves multiple modalities or lead tech duties, a Level 1 or Level 2 filing may be an under-leveling of the position.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same imaging tech role vary so much by city?

DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture actual pay in each metropolitan statistical area. High-density healthcare markets like San Jose and San Francisco report significantly higher wages than rural or lower-cost areas. The LCA rule requires employers to use the prevailing wage for the worksite location listed on the application, not company headquarters, so a hospital network with facilities in multiple states may file different wage floors for each site.

What happens if an employer's offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

An employer cannot certify the LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable DOL prevailing wage. OFLC will not approve the LCA, which blocks the H-1B or PERM process entirely. If an LCA is certified with an inaccurate wage attestation, the employer faces back-pay liability, debarment from future sponsorships, and civil penalties. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a negotiating baseline.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians in a specific U.S. city?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current wage by SOC code 29-2034 and metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city or county to retrieve all four level wages. You can also cross-reference recent LCA disclosure data that OFLC publishes quarterly to see what wages employers in your target market have actually attested to. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers in a given location have a sponsorship history for this role.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians right now.

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