Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Orland Park, IL: $104,754 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Orland Park, IL earns a median $104,754/year (≈ $50.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Orland Park's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $107,883 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% above the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Orland Park, IL, the projected median salary for nuclear medicine technologists in 2026 is $104,754. This figure reflects local adjustments based on state-level BLS data and regional cost factors, representing a vibrant sector in a favorable job market. Technologists in this area can expect salaries ranging from $80,935 at the lower end (P10) to $136,384 for those in the upper echelon (P90). The differentiation in salary largely stems from credentialing in PET/CT versus SPECT-only practices. Those trained in both modalities often command higher salaries due to increased demand, particularly as outpatient imaging centers and theranostics facilities flourish in the region.
About the Orland Park Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($96,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $80,935 | $38.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $89,017 | $42.79 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,754 | $50.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $119,929 | $57.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $136,384 | $65.57 |
Median Salary Position
1.55% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Orland Park
In Orland Park, IL, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $55,449 (2026 est.). At $104,754, the local median is 1.55% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Orland Park: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Orland Park Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Orland Park median: $104,754/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Orland Park Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $103,308 | +1.40% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | -1.55% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Orland Park, IL earn a median of $104,754 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.55% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 1.40% above the Illinois state average of $103,308.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Orland Park has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Orland Park, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $104,754 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $107,883 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,746
2025 BLS Actual
$99,804
2026 Current Est.
$104,754
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Orland Park (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,746 | Actual |
| 2020 | $78,360 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,543 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,982 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,071 | Actual |
| 2024 | $94,517 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,804 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,754 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,950 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Orland Park metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $76,746 (2019) to $99,804 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,950 by 2027 — a total increase of $33,204 (43.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Orland Park 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) | $80,935 – $89,017 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $89,017 – $104,754 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,754 – $119,929 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $119,929 – $136,384 |
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 Orland Park
With nine nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in Orland Park, job prospects remain stable, supported by a cost-of-living index of 97.1, which indicates a lower-than-average housing and living expenses compared to national metrics. Employers offering the best compensation typically include hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, while advanced roles in theranostics and mobile imaging services can result in even higher earnings. The wide salary spread can also be attributed to factors such as cross-training in CT, on-call coverage requirements, and the practical responsibilities tied to radiopharmaceutical administration timing. To maximize earnings in this specific local market, pursuing dual certification and gaining experience in high-demand areas like theranostics can prove beneficial. Moreover, networking with local professional organizations, such as SNMMI-TS or NMTCB, may open doors to more lucrative opportunities.
More salary data for Orland Park, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $99,804 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Orland Park 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 Orland Park 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