Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Wake Forest, NC: $95,856 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Wake Forest, NC earns a median $95,856/year (≈ $46.09/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Wake Forest's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $102,410 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wake Forest, NC, the projected median annual salary for a nuclear medicine technologist is $95,856 in 2026, which positions the local compensation below the national median of $106,398. The salary spectrum ranges from $77,385 at the lower end to $128,955 for those at the top percentile, indicating a diverse earning potential depending on experience and specific job roles. These figures have been derived from 2025 BLS data and regional price adjustments, reflecting the local healthcare landscape that often features both hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers. The city's job market may be limited with only nine nuclear medicine technologists currently employed, suggesting competitive dynamics for potential job seekers in this field.
About the Wake Forest Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($88,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,385 | $37.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,851 | $39.35 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $95,856 | $46.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $112,235 | $53.96 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,955 | $62.00 |
Median Salary Position
9.91% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wake Forest
In Wake Forest, NC, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $51,570 (2026 est.). At $95,856, the local median is 9.91% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wake Forest: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wake Forest Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Wake Forest median: $95,856/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wake Forest Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $97,217 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | -9.91% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Wake Forest, NC earn a median of $95,856 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.91% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 1.40% below the North Carolina state average of $97,217.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wake Forest 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.
Wake Forest, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $95,856 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $102,410 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,227
2025 BLS Actual
$91,326
2026 Current Est.
$95,856
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Wake Forest (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,227 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,704 | Actual |
| 2021 | $70,956 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,848 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,335 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,208 | Actual |
| 2025 | $91,326 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $95,856 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $100,610 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wake Forest metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $70,227 (2019) to $91,326 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $100,610 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,383 (43.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wake Forest 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) | $77,385 – $81,851 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,851 – $95,856 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $95,856 – $112,235 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $112,235 – $128,955 |
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 Wake Forest
The cost of living in Wake Forest is comparatively low, with an index of 93.6, which enhances purchasing power for nuclear medicine professionals. This environment allows technologists, particularly those with cross-training in CT or those working in high-demand outpatient settings, to maximize their earning potential. Employers such as regional outpatient PET/CT centers tend to offer more lucrative salaries than traditional hospital roles, as they seek professionals who can deliver a blend of services, including specialized theranostics and nuclear cardiology. The variance in pay is influenced by factors such as expertise in both SPECT and PET imaging and availability for on-call duties. For technologists in Wake Forest aiming to increase their salary, acquiring certifications in advanced imaging technologies and seeking roles that incorporate opportunities for on-call coverage could be strategic moves to boost earning potential in this evolving sector.
More salary data for Wake Forest, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nuclear medicine technologists make in Wake Forest, NC in 2026?
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Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Wake Forest?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nuclear medicine technologist salary in Wake Forest?
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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 $91,326 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest 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