Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Indio, CA: $173,078 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Indio, CA earns a median $173,078/year (≈ $83.21/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Indio's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $153,031 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In 2026, nuclear medicine technologists in Indio, California, can expect a median annual salary of $173,078, which reflects a substantial increase compared to national figures. Representative of the local market, salaries range from $137,866 at the 10th percentile to as high as $231,402 at the 90th percentile. These figures are drawn from BLS state-level data and incorporate regional pricing factors, highlighting the lucrative opportunities for professionals in Indio. The job market here caters to various settings, including hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/oncology centers, influencing salary scales based on facility type and patient care models.
About the Indio Market
Salary estimated from California average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $137,866 | $66.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $150,715 | $72.46 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $173,078 | $83.21 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $201,789 | $97.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $231,402 | $111.25 |
Median Salary Position
62.67% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Indio
In Indio, CA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $93,536 (2026 est.). At $173,078, the local median is 62.67% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Indio: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Indio Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Indio median: $173,078/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Indio Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $176,250 | -1.80% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | +62.67% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Indio, CA earn a median of $173,078 per year (2026 est.), which is 62.67% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 1.80% below the California state average of $176,250.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Indio has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Indio, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $173,078 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $153,031 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$126,802
2025 BLS Actual
$164,899
2026 Current Est.
$173,078
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Indio (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $126,802 | Actual |
| 2020 | $129,469 | Actual |
| 2021 | $128,119 | Actual |
| 2022 | $138,758 | Actual |
| 2023 | $150,470 | Actual |
| 2024 | $146,575 | Actual |
| 2025 | $164,899 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $173,078 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $181,663 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Indio metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $126,802 (2019) to $164,899 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $181,663 by 2027 — a total increase of $54,861 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Indio 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) | $137,866 – $150,715 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $150,715 – $173,078 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $173,078 – $201,789 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $201,789 – $231,402 |
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 Indio
With 23 nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in the area, competition can shape salary offerings. The cost-of-living index in Indio is 113.1, indicating that while salaries are higher, the purchasing power may be somewhat moderated by living expenses. Among local employers, those that operate outpatient PET imaging centers, especially in combination with cardiology practices, tend to offer the highest pay due to growing demand for both PET/CT services and theranostics therapies like Lutathera. The discrepancy in earnings can also be attributed to specific job roles, such as on-call coverage for radiopharmaceutical timing and varying levels of experience with SPECT or CT modalities. For technologists in Indio looking to maximize their pay, developing skills in hybrid PET/CT imaging and seeking positions in high-demand specialties may provide the best pathways to increased compensation.
More salary data for Indio, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Indio, CA in 2026?
Is Indio, CA a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Indio?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Indio?
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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
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 $164,899 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Indio 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
Salary data for Indio is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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