Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in St. Joseph, MO: $95,607 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in St. Joseph, MO earns a median $95,607/year (≈ $45.96/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in St. Joseph's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.6), that paycheck buys what $106,704 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% above the Missouri state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, nuclear medicine technologists in St. Joseph, Missouri, can expect a median annual salary of $95,607, reflecting the competitive nature of the job market amidst regional cost adjustments. With a salary range from $72,056 at the 10th percentile to $122,088 at the 90th percentile, the earnings potential varies significantly. This differentiation is largely driven by the credential mix among professionals, particularly between those holding PET/CT and SPECT-only qualifications. As the field shifts toward more advanced imaging techniques, technologists with dual credentials in PET/CT stand to command higher salaries. Employers in this area recognize this credential differential, influencing pay structures within local healthcare institutions and highlighting the evolving demands of the nuclear medicine sector in St. Joseph.
About the St. Joseph Market
Salary estimated from Missouri average ($86,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $72,056 | $34.65 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,959 | $38.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $95,607 | $45.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $108,245 | $52.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $122,088 | $58.69 |
Median Salary Position
10.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Joseph
In St. Joseph, MO, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $50,032 (2026 est.). At $95,607, the local median is 10.14% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Joseph: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Joseph Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
St. Joseph median: $95,607/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Joseph Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $95,321 | +0.30% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | -10.14% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $95,607 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.14% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 0.30% above the Missouri state average of $95,321.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Joseph has a cost of living 10.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Joseph, MO has a cost-of-living index of 89.6 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $95,607 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $106,704 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.61% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,044
2025 BLS Actual
$91,089
2026 Current Est.
$95,607
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,044 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,518 | Actual |
| 2021 | $70,772 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,649 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,119 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,277 | Actual |
| 2025 | $91,089 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $95,607 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $100,349 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $70,044 (2019) to $91,089 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $100,349 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,305 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph 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) | $72,056 – $79,959 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,959 – $95,607 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $95,607 – $108,245 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $108,245 – $122,088 |
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 St. Joseph
Analyzing the local landscape, St. Joseph employs 18 nuclear medicine technologists, indicating a stable job market for this profession. The cost of living index in the area sits at 89.6, which suggests that residents generally face lower living costs compared to the national average, thereby enhancing take-home purchasing power. Given the presence of diverse employers, those in hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers typically offer the most lucrative salaries. The disparity in pay can be attributed to various factors, such as the growing importance of theranostics experience, on-call coverage requirements, and cross-training in CT. To maximize salary potential, nuclear medicine technologists in St. Joseph should focus on acquiring PET/CT credentials and seek opportunities in settings that emphasize these advanced imaging techniques, further aligning their skills with market demand.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
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 $91,089 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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