Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Rancho Cucamonga, CA: $178,696 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Rancho Cucamonga, CA earns a median $178,696/year (≈ $85.91/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Rancho Cucamonga's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $157,998 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a projected median salary of $178,696 for 2026, nuclear medicine technologists in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, can expect to achieve significantly higher earnings than the national median of $106,398. This region also presents a wide salary range, with the bottom 10% earning around $129,414 and the upper 90% reaching as high as $235,993. Such figures, based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, reflect local market conditions and regional cost adjustments. The robust demand for skilled technologists, particularly those specializing in theranostics, enhances competitive compensation opportunities, positioning Rancho Cucamonga as a promising locale for professionals in this field.
About the Rancho Cucamonga Market
Salary estimated from California average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $129,414 | $62.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $156,606 | $75.29 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $178,696 | $85.91 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $206,254 | $99.16 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $235,993 | $113.46 |
Median Salary Position
67.95% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rancho Cucamonga
In Rancho Cucamonga, CA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $106,579 (2026 est.). At $178,696, the local median is 67.95% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rancho Cucamonga: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rancho Cucamonga Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Rancho Cucamonga median: $178,696/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rancho Cucamonga Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $176,229 | +1.40% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | +67.95% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Rancho Cucamonga, CA earn a median of $178,696 per year (2026 est.), which is 67.95% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 1.40% above the California state average of $176,229.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rancho Cucamonga has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $178,696 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $157,998 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$130,918
2025 BLS Actual
$170,252
2026 Current Est.
$178,696
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Rancho Cucamonga (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $130,918 | Actual |
| 2020 | $133,672 | Actual |
| 2021 | $132,278 | Actual |
| 2022 | $143,262 | Actual |
| 2023 | $155,355 | Actual |
| 2024 | $151,334 | Actual |
| 2025 | $170,252 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $178,696 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $187,560 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rancho Cucamonga metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $130,918 (2019) to $170,252 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $187,560 by 2027 — a total increase of $56,642 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rancho Cucamonga 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) | $129,414 – $156,606 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $156,606 – $178,696 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $178,696 – $206,254 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $206,254 – $235,993 |
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 Rancho Cucamonga
With 46 nuclear medicine technologists actively employed in the region, Rancho Cucamonga displays a promising local job market. However, the cost of living index of 113.1 suggests that while salaries are higher than the national average, expenses need careful consideration in assessing purchasing power. Top employers in the area include hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, which generally offer higher pay compared to SPECT-only roles. Variations in compensation can stem from factors such as experience in theranostics centers, cross-training in CT, and the structure of employment, whether in hospitals or outpatient settings. To maximize earnings in this competitive environment, technologists should focus on gaining credentials and experience in high-demand areas like PET/CT and theranostics, as these specialties command a premium in the Rancho Cucamonga market.
More salary data for Rancho Cucamonga, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Rancho Cucamonga, CA in 2026?
Is Rancho Cucamonga, CA a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Rancho Cucamonga?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Rancho Cucamonga?
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make per hour in Rancho Cucamonga?
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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 $170,252 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga 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