Is Rad Tech a Good Career? Salary, Schedules, and 20+ Years of Real Talk
Think Radiology is just about pushing buttons and taking pictures? Think again. In this episode of A Couple of Rad Techs Podcast, Chaun gets "100% real" about why she stumbled into this profession—it wasn't a "calling," it was a quest for independence and a career that didn't involve mucus. We explore how a 20-year career in radiologic technology can be a chameleon, allowing you to move from X-ray and CT into informatics, education, and even becoming a published author.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The Launchpad Effect: Why medical imaging is a gateway to the entire medical world, not just a clinical job.
- The "Roommate Factor": How this career provides the financial foundation for independence and a lifestyle you love.
- Endless Modalities: A breakdown of paths from MRI and Mammography to Radiation Safety and Forensics.
- Beyond the 9-to-5: The truth about schedules, travel work, and avoiding the "Sunday scaries."
Resources Mentioned:
- A Couple of Rad Techs Podcast: Dive into past episodes about informatics and specialized modalities.
- Career Questions? Drop your thoughts in the comments or reach out for a roadmap on how to start your own pivot.
Radiologic Technologist Career, Rad Tech Salary, Radiology School Tips, Medical Imaging Pivot, ASRT Leadership, MRI and CT Modalities, Informatics in Radiology, Healthcare Career Freedom.
Transcript
I'm gonna be 100% real with you.
Speaker A:I chose to become a radiologic technologist because I hated mucus and I didn't want roommates anymore.
Speaker A:There, it's out.
Speaker A:It's out.
Speaker A:You guys heard it first here.
Speaker A:I actually started out in respiratory therapy until I realized that y', all, it involved a lot of spit and mucus, and I didn't like it.
Speaker A:I didn't like the smell, I didn't like the sounds.
Speaker A:And I went to my college advisor and I was like, I can't do it.
Speaker A:I can't do it.
Speaker A:They pointed me towards radiologic technology, and I'm like, what is that?
Speaker A:And they said, well, you take X rays.
Speaker A:You know, I didn't even know what radiologic technology was at the time.
Speaker A:I just knew I needed a career that would let me pay my rent alone and I would never have to deal with a roommate situation ever again.
Speaker A:I'm just telling the truth here, but don't let that roommate thing fool you.
Speaker A:I didn't just stop at X rays.
Speaker A:Over the past or the last 20 plus years, I've built my resume that most people don't realize is possible in this field.
Speaker A:Now, I'm not saying that to brag or to elevate myself.
Speaker A:I'm here to tell you, you do not have to leave medical imaging.
Speaker A:And that is what my platform is all about.
Speaker A: sn't on social media prior to: Speaker A:So when people say, you know, it was just a call, I love people, but it was not a calling.
Speaker A:But I am so doggone glad I did it, y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:I am so glad, not just did it, that I kept going.
Speaker A:And throughout my 20 plus year career, I have not had a good roadmap.
Speaker A:I've had some stumbles and falls, and I'm here to help you guys.
Speaker A:Maybe not make the same mistakes I did, or to not progress as fast as I did, or to feel burned out and feel like, man, did I choose the wrong thing, or am I going to be taking X rays or doing CT for the rest of my life?
Speaker A:This is too hard to pivot after I've been doing this for 10 or 15 years.
Speaker A:I'm here to tell you it's not.
Speaker A:And telling this story and being honest with you guys as to why I got into radiologic technology, it was not solely because I just love people, which I do, y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:I love animals and People, I just do.
Speaker A:I'm still.
Speaker A:I'm just telling the truth.
Speaker A:But I didn't want any more roommates.
Speaker A:I wanted to be able to pay my rent myself without this other person having to come up with their half or their third.
Speaker A:I didn't want to have to deal with that anymore.
Speaker A:So now that you know this is not to brag, I want you guys to understand how amazing, how amazing this profession is and the things that it opens.
Speaker A:Opens you up to be able to do.
Speaker A:I knew I wanted to travel.
Speaker A:I knew I wanted to spend time with my family.
Speaker A:And something like radiologic technology was going to allow me to do that.
Speaker A:I just knew it.
Speaker A:I could.
Speaker A:I could feel it.
Speaker A:Even though I didn't know what all this profession offered like ct, mri, mammography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, therapy, medical dosimetry.
Speaker A:I mean, the list goes on and on and on.
Speaker A:Interventional radiology.
Speaker A:I mean, I could just keep going.
Speaker A:Bone dysentometry, so many things.
Speaker A:That's just a clinical part.
Speaker A:Now you got the other things, which are clinical applications, education, administration.
Speaker A:You can volunteer, you can work with organizations, you can do travel work.
Speaker A:Y' all know I can keep going.
Speaker A:I've built a resume again that I feel like you guys should know that you can go beyond that.
Speaker A:There are so many.
Speaker A:And with technology just advancing, I mean, informatics.
Speaker A:I got some stuff coming up, you guys, if you haven't heard my podcast about informatics, go back and listen because I got some more stuff coming up very soon, so make sure you stay tuned here.
Speaker A:I've been able to get ARRT certified in CT, Mr. Pornography.
Speaker A:I took a national certification in that course, worked as a clinical applications technologist.
Speaker A:So many things.
Speaker A:But I would even teach at a college level for many years.
Speaker A:And recently becoming a published author of a children's radiology book.
Speaker A:I mean, this just still blows my mind.
Speaker A:And it's a dream come true because I didn't want roommates, wanted a career, not just a job.
Speaker A:And this radiology profession is not just a job.
Speaker A:So when I get DMs and people ask me, is it a good idea to become a radiologic technologist?
Speaker A:Yes, absolutely, 100%.
Speaker A:But you have to see it for what it really is.
Speaker A:It's again, not a job where you sitting there pressing buttons, pulling patients over and you're just burned out and you're one patient after another.
Speaker A:It is not that.
Speaker A:It is a launch pad for whatever kind of life you desire.
Speaker A:And I say that because you're going to run into situations.
Speaker A:Technologists that are going to tell you or lead you to believe or management that's going to have you thinking that this is your dream job.
Speaker A:And it may be right then.
Speaker A:But I want you guys to think bigger because I didn't think anything about informatics.
Speaker A:I remember when PACs first came in, I thought, I just don't want to be making images digital the most.
Speaker A:We.
Speaker A:Who would have thought that PACs would have turned into.
Speaker A:Now we have informatics.
Speaker A:You cannot only see what's in front of you.
Speaker A:And that is the point of this video.
Speaker A:Here's the thing.
Speaker A:People, again, think we just push buttons and tell people to hold our breath.
Speaker A:Take pictures of kids in pigostats, you know, or push around big machines.
Speaker A:They couldn't be more wrong.
Speaker A:This career is a chameleon.
Speaker A:You aren't stuck in one room or one profession for 40 years.
Speaker A:There is no glass ceiling unless you decide to put one over you.
Speaker A:You can pivot from X ray to CT to clinical applications tech to owner of your own imaging center.
Speaker A:I have people coming up on my podcast that are going to blow your mind.
Speaker A:You can move into specialized clinics, take.
Speaker A:Take the path I did into consulting and education, even writing a book.
Speaker A:I mean, there are so many.
Speaker A:It doesn't have to be a children's book.
Speaker A:It could be anything.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:You never have to be bored because there is always a new modality to master.
Speaker A:Just because you get your certification doesn't mean you've mastered it.
Speaker A:And I'm gonna tell you, the way technology changes, there's so much you can do even within diagnostic radiology or a different side of the industry to explore.
Speaker A:I've got a podcast episode with a radiologic technologist that is a radiation safety officer for the government.
Speaker A:Like, I also got one of a forensic radiologic technologist, y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:Come on.
Speaker A:It's a gateway to the entire medical world.
Speaker A:Now, let's talk about that roommate factor I spoke about earlier.
Speaker A:When I started, I didn't know exactly how much a radiologic technologist made.
Speaker A:I didn't even think to think about that, y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:But I knew I needed a career that afforded me a certain lifestyle.
Speaker A:I knew this was it.
Speaker A:This field gave me the financial foundation to live exactly how I wanted, where I wanted.
Speaker A:Whether you're a staff technologist, clinical applications, technologist, educator, whatever you're doing in this profession, the earning potential is there to buy your independence, whatever life you want, don't get caught up in.
Speaker A:I got to make six figures I've got to do.
Speaker A:Look, you make the Salary that fits you that you're happy with because you work to live.
Speaker A:You do not live to work.
Speaker A:So if somebody gives you a job five minutes from your house, they might pay a little less from the company that's going to give you a job an hour from your house, but you get to spend an hour extra with your kids and your puppy or your mother that you're taking care of.
Speaker A:Like y', all, everything does not have to be six figures or monetary.
Speaker A:You get paid in so many ways.
Speaker A:I, my husband and I have been able to travel to over 20 countries.
Speaker A:We can take what my friends in Europe call holiday because of the type of shifts we can work, the type of schedules we can work.
Speaker A:If you aren't a desk person, I'm going to be the first to raise my hand.
Speaker A:I do not cannot work at a desk.
Speaker A:I'm sorry, y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:This is your lane.
Speaker A:Radiology is again.
Speaker A:I love to travel.
Speaker A:I love spending time with my family.
Speaker A:I absolutely do not want the 9 to 5 Monday through Friday grind.
Speaker A:I don't.
Speaker A:When I work a whole week, even now, I get antsy.
Speaker A:I'm like, oh, I don't want to work for another week.
Speaker A:And imaging, the schedule is amazing.
Speaker A:You can work your shifts and then leave work at work unless you're on call.
Speaker A:Now, sometimes we do have to take calls.
Speaker A:So sometimes you got to take your work home.
Speaker A:You sleeping, like, are they going to call me?
Speaker A:Are they not going to call me?
Speaker A:And so sometimes, but not all the time.
Speaker A:I mean, unless you have some type of other job, you really not taking your laptop home and have the Sunday scaries about unread emails.
Speaker A:You get your paycheck and you get your life back.
Speaker A:I'm going to tell you, I wrote my children's book because I saw a gap.
Speaker A:I didn't want the next generation to stumble into this career at 20, at 30, at 40 years old, you know, like many of you, like myself did, I want them to know about it from day one, from kindergarten, from, you know, early on.
Speaker A:If you're looking for a career that offers the freedom, the variety, the flexibility, and a way to help people without something that you just are not comfortable with.
Speaker A:Like, I just don't like mucus and spit.
Speaker A:That was not for me.
Speaker A:But I got plenty of friends that love that field.
Speaker A:This is it.
Speaker A:Radiology is it.
Speaker A:Follow me to learn how to bridge that gap from just a job to a real career in medical imaging.
Speaker A:And if you want to know more about this profession and you've got questions, here Check out my podcast, a couple of Rad Tech's Podcasts for any information about pay, job schedule, how to get started in radiologic technology, what type of schooling is involved.
Speaker A:It's all there in the podcast.
Speaker A:And if you're considering X ray or radiology technology school, or thinking about a change in a career, drop a question in the comments below.
Speaker A:I love to read them all and I like to respond to them.
Speaker A:And I definitely respond to them.
