Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Tucson, AZ: $103,994 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Tucson, AZ earns a median $103,994/year (≈ $49.99/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Tucson's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.9), that paycheck buys what $107,325 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% below the Arizona state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Tucson, Arizona, nuclear medicine technologists can expect a median annual salary of $103,994 in 2026, which reflects a slight decrease compared to the national median of $106,398. The salary landscape in this region varies widely, with entry-level positions starting around $61,916 and experienced professionals earning up to $130,413. These figures come from the latest estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. As Tucson continues to expand its healthcare facilities, including both hospitals and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, the demand for skilled nuclear medicine technologists is set to rise, impacting salary trends across the board.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,916 | $29.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $93,939 | $45.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,994 | $49.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $112,507 | $54.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $130,413 | $62.70 |
Median Salary Position
2.26% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tucson
In Tucson, AZ, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,497 (2026 est.). At $103,994, the local median is 2.26% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Tucson: You'd be above the median
How Tucson Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Tucson median: $103,994/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tucson Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Average | $104,833 | -0.80% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | -2.26% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Tucson, AZ earn a median of $103,994 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.26% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 0.80% below the Arizona state average of $104,833.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tucson has a cost of living 3.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tucson, AZ has a cost-of-living index of 96.896 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $103,994 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,325 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.2% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$76,189
2025 BLS Actual
$99,080
2026 Current Est.
$103,994
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Tucson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,189 | Actual |
| 2020 | $77,792 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $90,410 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,410 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,994 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,152 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tucson metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $76,189 (2019) to $99,080 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,152 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,963 (43.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tucson metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $61,916 – $93,939 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $93,939 – $103,994 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,994 – $112,507 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $112,507 – $130,413 |
NMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nuclear medicine technologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Market in Tucson
With approximately 50 nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in Tucson, the job market appears stable, offering opportunities primarily within hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient imaging centers. The cost of living index, standing at 96.896, indicates that salaries may be competitive in terms of purchasing power, especially compared to cities with higher living costs. Employers that offer the best pay typically include advanced PET/CT imaging centers, especially those incorporating theranostics therapies like Lutathera and Pluvicto. The variation in salaries often stems from the complexity and certification of the roles, with PET/CT specialists enjoying a pay premium over those focused solely on SPECT. For those looking to maximize their nuclear medicine technologist pay in Tucson, pursuing CT cross-training and obtaining additional credentials from organizations like the SNMMI-TS and NMTCB can enhance income potential significantly.
More salary data for Tucson, AZ:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Tucson, AZ in 2026?
Is Tucson, AZ a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Tucson?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Tucson?
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make per hour in Tucson?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Arizona
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $99,080 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Tucson metropolitan area. A 4.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 4-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nuclear medicine technologists (SOC 29-2033).
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