Highest Paying States for Nuclear Medicine Technologists (2026): Where NMTs Earn the Most
The highest paying state for nuclear medicine technologists is California at $177,272 average median salary in 2026, based on BLS OEWS data across 52 states and 1665+ metro areas. NMT pay varies from Puerto Rico ($55,083) to California ($177,272) — driven by NMTCB / ARRT(N) cert, PET-CT specialty, theranostics emergence, and academic medical center density.
Best States for Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary: 2026 Rankings
NMT pay variance is driven by NMTCB CNMT / ARRT(N) primary credential, PET-CT cross-training, theranostics (Lu-177 therapy emergence), academic medical center density, COL, and state income tax. California leads at $177,272, while Puerto Rico sits at $55,083.
Top-Tier States
- California ($120,000-$140,000) — SF Bay Area / LA / San Diego academic + Kaiser premium. State licensure CRT(N).
- Hawaii ($110,000-$128,000) — shortage + high COL.
- Alaska ($105,000-$125,000) — chronic shortage + no state income tax.
- Washington ($105,000-$122,000) — Seattle + no state income tax.
- Massachusetts ($102,000-$120,000) — Boston academic (MGH, BWH).
- Connecticut ($98,000-$115,000) — Yale + Fairfield.
Mid-Tier Markets
- Oregon ($95,000-$110,000) — Portland.
- New York ($95,000-$115,000) — NYC academic centers + MSK premium.
- New Jersey ($92,000-$110,000) — Bergen / Morris.
- Texas ($82,000-$100,000) — Houston Medical Center + MD Anderson + no state income tax.
- Florida ($78,000-$95,000) — Miami / Tampa + no state income tax.
- Minnesota ($82,000-$98,000) — Mayo Rochester premium.
Specialty Premium Markets
- PET-CT specialty — premier specialty $110,000-$140,000+.
- Theranostics / Lu-177 / Radioligand Therapy — emerging premium niche.
- Cardiac nuclear (SPECT-CT, PET cardiac) — premium specialty.
- Pediatric nuclear (children's hospital) — premium niche.
- PET / MR fusion (3T / hybrid) — premium emerging.
- Cyclotron operator (academic + industry) — premium niche.
- Travel NMT contracts — $2,000-$3,500/week premium.
- Federal VA / DoD — pension + PSLF.
2026 State Ranking Methodology
Rankings reflect 2026 projected median from BLS OEWS 2025. PET-CT + theranostics specialty materially shift ceiling. Academic medical centers + cancer centers (MSK, MD Anderson, Mayo) drive top-tier pay.
2019 BLS
$77,950
2025 BLS
$101,370
2026 Current Est.
$106,398
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
National Average for Context
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Median Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,950 | Actual |
| 2020 | $79,590 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,760 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,300 | Actual |
| 2023 | $92,500 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $106,398 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $111,675 | Projected |
Understanding the national salary trend helps contextualize state-level differences. The national median provides a baseline for comparing how each state's nuclear medicine technologist pay stacks up.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 4.96% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Nuclear Medicine Technologists
What Drives State-Level Nuclear Medicine Tech Pay Differences
Five primary factors explain NMT state-level pay variance.
1. Cost of Living (25-35%)
- HCOL markets command premium.
- RPP from BEA — CA 113, MS 86.
- COL-adjusted real income — Texas / Tennessee net often beat California.
2. PET-CT + Theranostics Specialty (25-35%)
- PET-CT specialty (premier) — $110,000-$140,000+.
- Theranostics / Lu-177 Radioligand — emerging premium niche.
- Cardiac nuclear (SPECT-CT, PET cardiac) — premium specialty.
- Pediatric nuclear — premium niche.
- PET / MR fusion (hybrid) — premium emerging.
- Cyclotron operator — premium niche.
- Radiopharmaceutical industry — premium emerging.
3. NMTCB / ARRT(N) + State License (10-15%)
- NMTCB CNMT — universal credential.
- ARRT(N) alternative — alternative credential.
- State licensure (where required) — verify per state.
- NRC radioactive materials license — required.
- State endorsement — 4-12 weeks.
- PET specialty cert (NMTCB PET) — premium.
4. State Income Tax (5-10% take-home)
- No state income tax — AK, WA, TX, FL, TN, NV, SD, WY, NH.
- High state income tax — CA, NY, OR, NJ, MN, HI.
- NYC + Philadelphia local — additional.
- Property + sales tax — TX, NJ tradeoff.
5. Cancer Center + Academic Premium (10-15%)
- NCI-designated cancer center — premier specialty premium.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Dana-Farber, City of Hope, Mayo — top cancer centers.
- Academic medical center — premium benefits + PSLF.
- Cardiac center — premium specialty.
- Children's hospital — premium niche.
- Federal VA / DoD — pension + PSLF.
- Outpatient imaging center — strong base.
Where Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Get Paid the Most?
Complete ranking of all 52 states by average nuclear medicine technologist salary. Click any state to see city-level breakdowns and detailed data.
| Rank | State | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $177,272 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $132,387 |
| 3 | New York | $127,007 |
| 4 | Washington | $122,733 |
| 5 | Alaska | $121,826 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $119,436 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $119,331 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $118,043 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $115,351 |
| 10 | Oregon | $114,494 |
| 11 | Colorado | $114,443 |
| 12 | Maryland | $110,527 |
| 13 | Nevada | $107,887 |
| 14 | Illinois | $106,948 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $106,900 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $106,442 |
| 17 | Virginia | $106,202 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $106,197 |
| 19 | Texas | $105,837 |
| 20 | Arizona | $105,208 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $103,345 |
| 22 | Ohio | $103,002 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $102,908 |
| 24 | Idaho | $102,813 |
| 25 | Florida | $102,585 |
| 26 | Georgia | $102,277 |
| 27 | Delaware | $101,746 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $101,464 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $101,386 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $99,923 |
| 31 | Michigan | $99,895 |
| 32 | Indiana | $98,692 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $98,127 |
| 34 | Maine | $97,110 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $96,996 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $96,987 |
| 37 | Missouri | $96,436 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $96,073 |
| 39 | Utah | $95,815 |
| 40 | Montana | $95,613 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $94,518 |
| 42 | Vermont | $94,010 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $93,944 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $92,060 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $91,997 |
| 46 | Iowa | $90,789 |
| 47 | Alabama | $90,717 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $89,632 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $89,011 |
| 50 | Kansas | $87,953 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $87,128 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $55,083 |
Lowest Paying States for Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Even the lowest-paying states offer nuclear medicine technologist salaries well above the national average for all occupations. Here are the 5 lowest-paying states:
Top Earner Potential by State
The 90th percentile represents what experienced, highly-skilled nuclear medicine technologists earn in each state. These are the 10 states with the highest earning ceilings:
| # | State | Top Earner (P90) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $228,713 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $175,676 |
| 3 | Alaska | $170,564 |
| 4 | Washington | $161,868 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $157,516 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $152,619 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $148,919 |
| 8 | Colorado | $147,857 |
| 9 | Nevada | $147,061 |
| 10 | New York | $146,413 |
How to Move to a Higher-Paying State for Nuclear Medicine Tech Work
Relocating for NMT pay requires balancing nominal salary against PET-CT / theranostics specialty, state tax, COL, and academic center density.
1. Verify NMTCB CNMT + State License + NRC
- NMTCB CNMT certification — universal credential.
- ARRT(N) alternative — accepted in some states.
- JRCNMT-accredited NMT program — required.
- State licensure (where required) — verify per state.
- NRC radioactive materials license — required.
- State endorsement — 4-12 weeks.
- PET specialty cert (NMTCB PET) — premium specialty.
- BLS / ACLS — required.
2. Calculate Real Take-Home, Not Nominal
- COL-adjusted income — Texas NMT at $92,000 may exceed California NMT at $130,000 net.
- State + local income tax — effective rate.
- Property + sales tax — TX tradeoff.
- Childcare cost spread — major.
- Health + benefits — academic cancer center vs outpatient.
- 401(k) match + pension — federal + university.
- Shift differential (call, evening, weekend) — 10-30% premium.
3. Target PET-CT / Theranostics / Cancer Center
- PET-CT specialty (premier) — $110,000-$140,000+.
- Theranostics / Lu-177 emerging — premium niche.
- Cardiac nuclear (SPECT-CT, PET cardiac) — premium.
- Pediatric nuclear (children's hospital) — premium niche.
- NCI cancer center (MSK, MD Anderson, Dana-Farber) — premier.
- Academic medical center — premium benefits.
- Travel NMT (15-30% premium hourly) — premium.
- Cyclotron operator (academic + industry) — premium niche.
4. Negotiate Sign-On + Loan Forgiveness
- Sign-on bonus ($5,000-$20,000) — common at shortage + theranostics.
- Relocation assistance ($3,000-$15,000) — standard.
- PSLF stack (501(c)(3) + government) — 10-year forgiveness.
- Tuition reimbursement (PET cert, BSRT) — premium.
- Call pay (cardiac, theranostics) — significant supplemental.
- Shift differential — 10-30% premium.
- PET / theranostics specialty stipend — premium.
- Federal VA / DoD pension + PSLF — long-term.
5. Choose Setting Based on Career Plan
- NCI cancer center PET-CT (premier) — top pay.
- Academic medical center + PSLF — long-term.
- Theranostics specialty (Lu-177 program) — emerging premium.
- Cardiac nuclear suite — premium specialty.
- Children's hospital pediatric nuclear — premium niche.
- Cyclotron operator (industry / academic) — premium niche.
- Federal VA / DoD — pension + PSLF.
- Travel NMT / per-diem — premium hourly.
- NMT lead tech / educator / radiation safety officer — admin track.
- Radiopharmaceutical industry sales / training — premium emerging.
Additional Geographic + Lifestyle Considerations
- Climate fit + lifestyle preference — extreme heat (TX, FL, AZ) vs winter (MN, ME, AK) — major lifestyle differential beyond paycheck.
- School district quality (for families with children) — major hidden cost. Top suburban districts in NJ / NY / MA / CA add significant value.
- Healthcare access + cost-of-living index — verify metro-specific data on BLS / BEA.
- Spousal employment market — coordinate timing with partner career.
- Aging parent proximity — major life consideration.
- Network + alumni density (professional + social) — major.
- Recreation + outdoor access — varies dramatically by state.
- State + local political climate fit — major lifestyle differential.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in nuclear medicine. She specializes in PET imaging at a community hospital. She analyzes trends in the nuclear medicine job market.
Methodology & Data Source
State salary rankings on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each state's average salary. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT, a licensed nuclear medicine technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov