Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Sunnyvale, CA: $213,721 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Sunnyvale, CA earns a median $213,721/year (≈ $102.75/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Sunnyvale's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $188,966 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 21.2% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Sunnyvale, California, the salary landscape for nuclear medicine technologists is quite robust, reflecting both the demand for advanced imaging services and the structural dynamics of healthcare facilities. With a projected median annual salary of $213,721 for 2026, professionals in this field can expect competitive pay, especially compared to the national median of $106,398. Salaries in Sunnyvale range considerably, from $161,645 at the 10th percentile to up to $291,455 at the 90th percentile, based on estimates derived from 2025 BLS data. This high earning potential is supported by a concentration of employment in various settings, including hospital departments and outpatient imaging centers, which continue to diversify their offerings to include cutting-edge therapies.
About the Sunnyvale Market
Salary estimated from California average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $161,645 | $77.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $179,641 | $86.36 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $213,721 | $102.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $251,653 | $120.99 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $291,455 | $140.12 |
Median Salary Position
100.87% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sunnyvale
In Sunnyvale, CA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $129,810 (2026 est.). At $213,721, the local median is 100.87% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sunnyvale: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sunnyvale Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Sunnyvale median: $213,721/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sunnyvale Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $176,337 | +21.20% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | +100.87% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Sunnyvale, CA earn a median of $213,721 per year (2026 est.), which is 100.87% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 21.20% above the California state average of $176,337.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sunnyvale has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sunnyvale, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $213,721 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $188,966 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$156,577
2025 BLS Actual
$203,621
2026 Current Est.
$213,721
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Sunnyvale (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $156,577 | Actual |
| 2020 | $159,872 | Actual |
| 2021 | $158,204 | Actual |
| 2022 | $171,341 | Actual |
| 2023 | $185,804 | Actual |
| 2024 | $154,325 | Actual |
| 2025 | $203,621 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $213,721 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $224,321 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sunnyvale metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $156,577 (2019) to $203,621 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $224,321 by 2027 — a total increase of $67,744 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sunnyvale 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) | $161,645 – $179,641 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $179,641 – $213,721 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $213,721 – $251,653 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $251,653 – $291,455 |
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 Sunnyvale
A closer analysis of the local job market reveals the presence of 26 nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in the area. Despite the compelling salary figures, the cost of living in Sunnyvale is notably above average, with a cost-of-living index of 113.1. This higher cost means that take-home pay does not stretch as far as it might in lower-cost locales, underscoring the importance of negotiating for top salaries. Among the employers, hospitals generally tend to offer higher remuneration compared to outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, primarily due to the demanding qualifications and diverse skill sets involved, such as CT cross-training and on-call responsibilities. Navigating the pay scale effectively may also involve focusing on emerging fields like theranostics, which includes therapies such as Pluvicto and Lutathera, as these are attracting significant premiums for specialized knowledge and certification.
More salary data for Sunnyvale, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Sunnyvale?
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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 $203,621 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale 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