Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in San Marcos, CA: $176,261 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in San Marcos, CA earns a median $176,261/year (≈ $84.74/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in San Marcos's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $155,845 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In San Marcos, California, the projected median annual salary for nuclear medicine technologists in 2026 is $176,261, reflecting a sharp increase compared to the national median of $106,398. This salary estimate suggests a robust job market, bolstered by the presence of both hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers that require various competencies. The salary range for this role in San Marcos spans from $131,445 at the 10th percentile to $242,088 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price parity, illustrate significant disparities influenced by the structural choice between hospital settings and outpatient centers, which can affect pay rates and job availability.
About the San Marcos Market
Salary estimated from California average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $131,445 | $63.20 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $146,770 | $70.56 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $176,261 | $84.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $202,641 | $97.42 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $242,088 | $116.39 |
Median Salary Position
65.66% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Marcos
In San Marcos, CA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $110,643 (2026 est.). At $176,261, the local median is 65.66% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Marcos: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Marcos Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
San Marcos median: $176,261/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Marcos Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $106,398 | +65.66% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in San Marcos, CA earn a median of $176,261 per year (2026 est.), which is 65.66% higher than the national median of $106,398.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Marcos has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Marcos, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $176,261 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $155,845 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$129,134
2025 BLS Actual
$167,932
2026 Current Est.
$176,261
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in San Marcos (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $129,134 | Actual |
| 2020 | $131,851 | Actual |
| 2021 | $130,476 | Actual |
| 2022 | $141,310 | Actual |
| 2023 | $153,238 | Actual |
| 2024 | $149,271 | Actual |
| 2025 | $167,932 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $176,261 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $185,004 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Marcos metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $129,134 (2019) to $167,932 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $185,004 by 2027 — a total increase of $55,870 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Marcos 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) | $131,445 – $146,770 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $146,770 – $176,261 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $176,261 – $202,641 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $202,641 – $242,088 |
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 San Marcos
The local job market features 17 nuclear medicine technologists, indicating a competitive yet stable environment for professionals in this field. The cost of living index, sitting at 113.1, suggests that while salaries are higher than the national average, the increased living expenses could impact overall take-home purchasing power. Employers within hospital settings, particularly those with advanced imaging capabilities, tend to offer the highest compensation. The disparities in pay arise from factors such as the type of certifications held—those with PET/CT or theranostics experience, like lutetium-177 therapies, can command a premium. For technologists seeking to maximize their salary in San Marcos, focusing on versatile skills, including CT cross-training and being available for on-call shifts, could enhance earnings potential significantly.
More salary data for San Marcos, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in San Marcos, CA in 2026?
Is San Marcos, CA a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in San Marcos?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in San Marcos?
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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 $167,932 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the San Marcos 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 San Marcos 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