Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Louisville, KY: $103,587 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Louisville, KY earns a median $103,587/year (≈ $49.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Louisville's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $115,999 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.0% above the Kentucky state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the nuclear medicine technologist salary in Louisville is projected to be $103,587, slightly below the national median of $106,398, reflecting a nuanced local market. The salary range spans from $73,797 at the 10th percentile to $142,095 at the 90th percentile, signaling significant earning potential depending on experience and specialization. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data and adjusted for regional cost variances, illustrate how roles centered around theranostics can command a premium, particularly as innovations like Lutathera and Pluvicto reshape treatment protocols. The strong demand for PET/CT services in Louisville's healthcare facilities could be a decisive factor for technologists seeking above-average compensation in this evolving field.
About the Louisville Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($80,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $73,797 | $35.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,118 | $40.44 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,587 | $49.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $122,052 | $58.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $142,095 | $68.32 |
Median Salary Position
2.64% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Louisville
In Louisville, KY, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,298 (2026 est.). At $103,587, the local median is 2.64% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Louisville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Louisville Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Louisville median: $103,587/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Louisville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $95,034 | +9.00% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | -2.64% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Louisville, KY earn a median of $103,587 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.64% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 9.00% above the Kentucky state average of $95,034.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Louisville has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Louisville, KY has a cost-of-living index of 89.3 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $103,587 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $115,999 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.98% boost.
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
$75,891
2025 BLS Actual
$98,692
2026 Current Est.
$103,587
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Louisville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $75,891 | Actual |
| 2020 | $77,487 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,679 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,047 | Actual |
| 2023 | $90,056 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,887 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,692 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,587 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $108,725 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Louisville metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $75,891 (2019) to $98,692 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $108,725 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,834 (43.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Louisville 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) | $73,797 – $84,118 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,118 – $103,587 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,587 – $122,052 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $122,052 – $142,095 |
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 Louisville
The job market for nuclear medicine technologists in Louisville, with 132 professionals currently employed, remains robust despite a cost-of-living index of 89.3, which suggests a favorable purchasing power relative to many other regions. Employers that tend to offer higher salaries include hospital nuclear medicine departments, outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, and targeted theranostics facilities. The variations in pay within Louisville stem from factors such as the mixture of PET/CT versus SPECT-only credentials, as well as the on-call requirements and cross-training in CT. Technologists looking to maximize their nuclear medicine technologist pay in Louisville, KY, should consider enhancing their skill set in theranostics and pursuing roles that integrate both PET/CT and diagnostic imaging capabilities.
More salary data for Louisville, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Louisville, KY in 2026?
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Louisville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Louisville?
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make per hour in Louisville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
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 $98,692 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Louisville 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 Louisville 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