Once you’re a registered radiologic technologist, you can add advanced credentials in areas like CT, MRI, mammography or interventional radiology. Each one opens new jobs, and many come with higher pay. This guide explains the main credentials, what each one involves and what the latest national survey says about pay.
[TU EXPERIENCIA: 2–3 sentences on the modalities you’ve worked in and what each feels like day to day, noting that in Spain technologists work across modalities without separate credentials.]
Key takeaways
- ARRT offers advanced (postprimary) credentials you can add to your radiography credential, including CT, MRI, mammography, bone densitometry, cardiac and vascular interventional, vascular sonography, breast sonography and radiologist assistant.
- In ASRT’s 2024 national survey, technologists working mainly in radiography averaged $73,274 a year, while those working in CT, MRI, mammography and interventional areas averaged about $88,000 to $98,000.
- The highest averages were for roles that need more education, such as radiologist assistants and medical dosimetrists.
- Pay depends on more than the credential: experience, state, shifts and employer all matter.
- Choose a credential you’ll enjoy and can realistically train for at your workplace.
What is an advanced (postprimary) credential?
ARRT credentials come in two types:
- Primary credentials come from completing an accredited education program, such as radiography, R.T.(R).
- Postprimary credentials are added later. You document clinical experience and structured education, then pass an exam.
You earn the postprimary credential on top of a supporting credential, usually radiography. Your title then grows, for example from R.T.(R) to R.T.(R)(CT).
The main ARRT advanced credentials
| Credential | What you do | Typical setting |
|---|---|---|
| Computed Tomography, CT | Cross-sectional imaging with X-rays | Hospitals, ERs, imaging centers |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MR | Imaging with magnets and radio waves | Hospitals, outpatient imaging centers |
| Mammography, M | Breast screening and diagnostic imaging | Breast centers, hospitals |
| Bone Densitometry, BD | DEXA scans for bone density | Clinics, women’s health centers |
| Cardiac Interventional, CI | Imaging during heart catheter procedures | Cath labs |
| Vascular Interventional, VI | Imaging during procedures on blood vessels and organs | Interventional radiology suites |
| Vascular Sonography, VS | Ultrasound of blood vessels | Vascular labs, hospitals |
| Breast Sonography, BS | Breast ultrasound | Breast centers |
| Registered Radiologist Assistant, R.R.A. | Advanced-level role working with radiologists | Hospitals, radiology practices |
ARRT no longer issues new Quality Management or Cardiovascular Interventional credentials. Since 2020, the general Sonography credential is available only through the primary pathway, which means completing a sonography education program.
Which pays most? The 2024 survey data
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) surveys pay every two years. The table below shows the average full-time base pay in 2024 by the main area people work in. That’s not exactly the same as which credentials they hold, but it’s the best national comparison available.
| Primary area of work | Average annual base pay (2024) | Respondents |
|---|---|---|
| Medical dosimetry* | $136,510 | 204 |
| Radiologist assistant | $126,428 | 15 (small sample) |
| Radiation therapy | $106,475 | 904 |
| Nuclear medicine | $103,619 | 473 |
| Breast sonography | $98,405 | 23 (small sample) |
| Cardiac interventional | $97,647 | 515 |
| Vascular sonography | $96,005 | 35 (small sample) |
| Vascular interventional | $95,317 | 565 |
| Sonography | $93,237 | 467 |
| Magnetic resonance (MRI) | $92,729 | 1,745 |
| Mammography | $88,468 | 1,196 |
| Computed tomography (CT) | $87,785 | 2,479 |
| Bone densitometry | $74,527 | 28 (small sample) |
| Radiography | $73,274 | 5,946 |
| All areas | $86,484 | 15,219 |
*Medical dosimetry certification comes from the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB), not ARRT. Radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and sonography are primary credentials that need their own education program.
How to read this:
- Small samples are less reliable. ASRT warns that results for very small groups, such as radiologist assistants, can be off by a wide margin.
- The credential isn’t the only reason for higher pay. People in advanced roles often have more experience, work evenings or on call, or work in higher-paying states.
- The top two need much more education. Radiologist assistants usually need a master’s-level program, and dosimetrists need specialized training and certification.
For most radiographers, the realistic next steps are CT, MRI, mammography or interventional. In the survey, these areas averaged roughly $14,500 to $24,400 more per year than radiography.
Requirements at a glance
Most ARRT postprimary credentials follow the same pattern:
- Hold an active supporting credential, usually R.T.(R).
- Complete 16 hours of structured education within 24 months before applying.
- Perform and document a set number of clinical procedures, verified by a qualified technologist or physician.
- Apply and pass the exam. The ARRT postprimary application fee is $225.
The registered radiologist assistant is different: it requires completing a recognized radiologist assistant education program and meeting extra requirements.
How to choose
- What do you enjoy? Fast-paced ER and trauma work suits CT. Detailed, longer exams suit MRI. Patient education and screening suit mammography. Procedures and teamwork suit interventional.
- Can you train where you work? Clinical experience is the biggest hurdle. Choose a modality your employer can support.
- What’s in demand near you? Check local job postings for credentials employers ask for.
- Think about schedules. Interventional and CT roles often involve call. Outpatient MRI and mammography often have more regular hours.
- Think long term. Some techs stack credentials, for example CT plus MRI, to stay flexible.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying credential a rad tech can add? In ASRT’s 2024 survey, among roles a radiographer can reach through ARRT’s postprimary pathway, interventional areas had some of the highest averages, followed by MRI, mammography and CT. Higher-paying roles like radiologist assistant require much more education.
Is CT or MRI better for pay? In the 2024 survey, MRI technologists averaged about $5,000 more than CT technologists. Local pay varies.
Can I hold several advanced credentials? Yes. Many technologists add two or more, such as CT and MRI.
Do advanced credentials need continuing education? Yes. ARRT requires continuing education for all credentials, and you must meet ARRT’s ongoing requirements to keep them.
Sources
- American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT): Radiologic Technologist Wage and Salary Survey 2024.
- ASRT: Wage and Salary Survey Shows Wage Increases Across All Major Disciplines (October 31, 2024).
- American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): Registered Technologist (R.T.) Credential Options.
- ARRT: Structured Education Requirements for Postprimary Candidates; Application fees.
- ARRT: Elimination of the postprimary eligibility pathway for sonography.
Pay figures are national averages from a survey and don’t guarantee what you’ll earn. Check local job postings and current requirements before you choose a credential.