Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Cary, NC: $96,804 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Cary, NC earns a median $96,804/year (≈ $46.54/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Cary's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $103,423 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.4% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Cary, North Carolina, nuclear medicine technologists earn a median annual salary of $96,804, demonstrating competitive compensation relative to the national average. The salary spectrum ranges significantly, from $76,423 at the 10th percentile to $132,455 at the 90th percentile, indicating a wide variance in pay based on experience and specialization. These figures reflect local estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, adjusted for regional price variations. Cary's healthcare market, with its blend of hospital and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, plays a crucial role in shaping these salaries, influencing earning potential for nuclear medicine professionals interested in hospital versus outpatient settings.
About the Cary Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($88,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,423 | $36.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $83,888 | $40.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $96,804 | $46.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $110,746 | $53.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $132,455 | $63.68 |
Median Salary Position
9.02% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cary
In Cary, NC, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,032 (2026 est.). At $96,804, the local median is 9.02% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cary: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cary Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Cary median: $96,804/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cary Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $97,192 | -0.40% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | -9.02% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Cary, NC earn a median of $96,804 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.02% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 0.40% below the North Carolina state average of $97,192.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cary has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cary, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $96,804 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $103,423 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% 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
$70,921
2025 BLS Actual
$92,229
2026 Current Est.
$96,804
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Cary (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,921 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,413 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,658 | Actual |
| 2022 | $77,608 | Actual |
| 2023 | $84,159 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,796 | Actual |
| 2025 | $92,229 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,804 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $101,605 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cary metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $70,921 (2019) to $92,229 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $101,605 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,684 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cary 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) | $76,423 – $83,888 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $83,888 – $96,804 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $96,804 – $110,746 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $110,746 – $132,455 |
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 Cary
With 44 nuclear medicine technologists employed in Cary, the local job market remains stable, but salary potential is influenced by the area’s cost of living index, which stands at 93.6. This lower index suggests that take-home pay can provide a favorable purchasing power when compared to national standards. Among the various employers, hospital nuclear medicine departments often offer higher compensation compared to outpatient centers, especially for those with multi-modality skills or additional expertise in theranostics—an area experiencing rapid growth. The salary gap between the lower and upper ranges frequently correlates with credential combinations, on-call requirements, and the varying complexities of procedures performed. To maximize earning potential in Cary, professionals should consider diversifying their credentials, gaining experience in advanced therapeutic techniques, and pursuing opportunities in settings that emphasize PET/CT technology and related services.
More salary data for Cary, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Cary, NC in 2026?
Is Cary, NC a good place to work as a nuclear medicine technologist?
Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Cary?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Cary?
How much does a nuclear medicine technologist make per hour in Cary?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $92,229 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Cary 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 Cary 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