Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Santa Ana, CA: $186,781 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Santa Ana, CA earns a median $186,781/year (≈ $89.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Santa Ana's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $165,147 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.0% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Nuclear medicine technologists in Santa Ana, California, are projected to see a median annual salary of $186,781 in 2026, significantly surpassing the national median of $106,398. The salary for this role spans from $132,952 at the 10th percentile to $256,058 at the 90th percentile, providing valuable opportunities for varying levels of expertise and experience. Based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, these figures reflect adjustments for local economic conditions and the unique demand for specialists in this area. With 69 nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in the region, the job market indicates a balance of supply and demand within the healthcare framework, especially in response to Santa Ana's dual structural model of hospital environments versus outpatient PET/CT imaging centers.
About the Santa Ana Market
Salary estimated from California average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $132,952 | $63.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $151,587 | $72.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $186,781 | $89.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $219,981 | $105.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $256,058 | $123.11 |
Median Salary Position
75.55% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Ana
In Santa Ana, CA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $123,106 (2026 est.). At $186,781, the local median is 75.55% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Ana: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Santa Ana Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Santa Ana median: $186,781/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Ana Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $176,208 | +6.00% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | +75.55% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Santa Ana, CA earn a median of $186,781 per year (2026 est.), which is 75.55% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 6.00% above the California state average of $176,208.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Ana has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Ana, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $186,781 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $165,147 — a 11.58% reduction.
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
$136,840
2025 BLS Actual
$177,954
2026 Current Est.
$186,781
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Santa Ana (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $136,840 | Actual |
| 2020 | $139,719 | Actual |
| 2021 | $138,262 | Actual |
| 2022 | $149,743 | Actual |
| 2023 | $162,383 | Actual |
| 2024 | $158,180 | Actual |
| 2025 | $177,954 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $186,781 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $196,045 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Ana metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $136,840 (2019) to $177,954 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $196,045 by 2027 — a total increase of $59,205 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Ana 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) | $132,952 – $151,587 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $151,587 – $186,781 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $186,781 – $219,981 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $219,981 – $256,058 |
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 Santa Ana
When considering the local job market for nuclear medicine technologists, the current cost of living index in Santa Ana, at 113.1, implies a higher level of income necessary for maintaining a similar standard of living seen elsewhere. Given the competitive salary variations, those employed at outpatient PET/CT imaging centers and theranostics facilities tend to command the highest wages, driven by the complexities of radiopharmaceutical therapies such as lutetium-177 treatments. Factors influencing the wide pay range include the type of credentialing held—cross-training in CT and SPECT versus PET/CT—and the responsibilities associated with on-call coverage. To maximize earnings, technologists should seek additional certifications that enhance their skill set and explore employment options across various healthcare settings, ensuring they remain adept in the rapidly growing nuclear medicine sector.
More salary data for Santa Ana, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Santa Ana, CA in 2026?
Is Santa Ana, CA a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Santa Ana?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Santa Ana?
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make per hour in Santa Ana?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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 $177,954 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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