Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Murrieta, CA: $175,919 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Murrieta, CA earns a median $175,919/year (≈ $84.58/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Murrieta's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $155,543 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Nuclear medicine technologists in Murrieta, California, can expect a robust median annual salary of $175,919 in 2026, significantly higher than the national figure of $106,398. This prominent salary reflects an industry increasingly oriented toward advanced imaging techniques like PET/CT, which drives higher compensation compared to SPECT-only roles. The projected salary range spans from $137,073 at the 10th percentile to $238,125 at the 90th percentile, indicating considerable variance based on specialization and experience. Local estimates, informed by 2025 BLS data and regional cost adjustments, highlight Murrieta's competitive job market, emphasizing the lucrative opportunities for qualified professionals in this growing field.
About the Murrieta Market
Salary estimated from California average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $137,073 | $65.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $150,910 | $72.55 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $175,919 | $84.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $210,519 | $101.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $238,125 | $114.48 |
Median Salary Position
65.34% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Murrieta
In Murrieta, CA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $101,052 (2026 est.). At $175,919, the local median is 65.34% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Murrieta: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Murrieta Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Murrieta median: $175,919/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Murrieta Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $176,272 | -0.20% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | +65.34% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Murrieta, CA earn a median of $175,919 per year (2026 est.), which is 65.34% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 0.20% below the California state average of $176,272.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Murrieta has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Murrieta, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $175,919 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $155,543 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$128,883
2025 BLS Actual
$167,606
2026 Current Est.
$175,919
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Murrieta (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $128,883 | Actual |
| 2020 | $131,595 | Actual |
| 2021 | $130,222 | Actual |
| 2022 | $141,036 | Actual |
| 2023 | $152,940 | Actual |
| 2024 | $148,982 | Actual |
| 2025 | $167,606 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $175,919 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $184,645 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Murrieta metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $128,883 (2019) to $167,606 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $184,645 by 2027 — a total increase of $55,762 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Murrieta 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) | $137,073 – $150,910 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $150,910 – $175,919 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $175,919 – $210,519 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $210,519 – $238,125 |
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 Murrieta
With 25 nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in Murrieta, the local job market remains steady, though the cost of living index stands at 113.1, indicating higher living expenses than the national average. This reality affects purchasing power despite the elevated salary offerings. Among local employers, outpatient PET/CT imaging centers and hospital nuclear medicine departments tend to provide the most competitive pay, with additional premiums for experience in theranostics and advanced imaging techniques. Factors such as credential mix, on-call responsibilities, and cross-training in CT can create significant pay disparities within the market. For those seeking to maximize their nuclear medicine technologist pay in Murrieta, focusing on obtaining PET/CT accreditation and gaining experience in cutting-edge therapies like lutetium-177 treatments can provide a considerable advantage.
More salary data for Murrieta, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Murrieta, CA in 2026?
Is Murrieta, CA a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Murrieta?
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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 $167,606 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Murrieta 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 Murrieta 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