While it is true that you do not need a bachelor’s degree to become a radiology technician, many students do decide that this is the better course of action for them to take. On the whole, those radiology technicians who only opt for a high school diploma or equivalent and a certification- that is, usually an associates, do not make as much money, nor do they have as much in the way of options for advancement. In any medical related field, more education and experience will better enable a potential radiology technician to grow, to reach a stronger footing for employment. While the field is growing and changing- more and more students are opting for a radiology technician career, which means, being able to have higher education gives more advantages.

On the whole, statistics have shown that a radiology technician with a bachelor’s degree will make more money than one with simply an associates or less. Education, level of experience and location often play a factor in the annual salary, however, giving yourself an extra advantage is key. Usually, those with just a high school diploma and a certificate may make around $30,000 on the low end, going up to $56,000 at the highest. However, those radiology technicians who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree may make $63,000 as a starting annual salary, so continued education is certainly a wise investment.

With current high demand in the field, and more students deciding on the quick career path, those with the higher education will find that they are able to obtain much more meaningful long term employment at a higher annual salary than their counterparts. Those who do go immediately into the field usually find that the level of experience that they obtain increases salary, yes, but not nearly as much as it would had they completed a bachelor’s degree before entering the workforce. Those who have worked in the field for two years on an associates usually average between $37,000 and $43,000 per year, and those with ten years still do not reach the annual income of those with a bachelor’s- with ten years of experience a radiology technician may make over $55,000 a year, increasing with experience. So while a bachelor’s degree is not necessary to become a radiology technician, it is definitely a career path that can bring about better options much sooner than lesser degrees in the field.