Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Oak Ridge, TN: $95,832 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Oak Ridge, TN earns a median $95,832/year (≈ $46.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Oak Ridge's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $104,392 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.9% below the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, nuclear medicine technologists in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, can expect a median annual salary of $95,832, which reflects the local market's emphasis on specialized credentials. With a salary range from $73,916 to $127,955, income potential is influenced significantly by whether technologists hold PET/CT credentials versus SPECT-only certifications. These projections are derived from 2025 BLS data, which is adjusted for local economic conditions and cost of living factors, presenting a solid overview of compensation trends in the region. As Oak Ridge continues to grow as a key player in the field of nuclear medicine, those with advanced certifications stand to benefit from an increasingly robust job market.
About the Oak Ridge Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $73,916 | $35.54 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,199 | $39.03 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $95,832 | $46.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $108,681 | $52.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $127,955 | $61.52 |
Median Salary Position
9.93% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Oak Ridge
In Oak Ridge, TN, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $54,039 (2026 est.). At $95,832, the local median is 9.93% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Oak Ridge: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Oak Ridge Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Oak Ridge median: $95,832/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Oak Ridge Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $97,688 | -1.90% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | -9.93% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Oak Ridge, TN earn a median of $95,832 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.93% lower than the national median of $106,398 and 1.90% below the Tennessee state average of $97,688.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Oak Ridge has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Oak Ridge, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $95,832 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,392 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,209
2025 BLS Actual
$91,303
2026 Current Est.
$95,832
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Oak Ridge (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,209 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,686 | Actual |
| 2021 | $70,938 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,829 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,314 | Actual |
| 2024 | $73,856 | Actual |
| 2025 | $91,303 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $95,832 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $100,585 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Oak Ridge metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $70,209 (2019) to $91,303 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $100,585 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,376 (43.27%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Oak Ridge 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) | $73,916 – $81,199 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,199 – $95,832 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $95,832 – $108,681 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $108,681 – $127,955 |
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 Oak Ridge
The job market in Oak Ridge features six nuclear medicine technologists, catering to a range of employers, including hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers. Given the area's cost-of-living index of 91.8, salaries here afford a competitive advantage in purchasing power relative to many other regions. Facilities that focus on therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, such as theranostics centers and cardiology practices implementing nuclear cardiology, often offer higher pay due to the specialized skills required. The pay disparity largely arises from differences in credential mix — those with PET/CT training command higher salaries compared to SPECT-only technologists. To maximize earning potential, aspiring professionals should aim for cross-training in CT technologies and direct experience in outpatient settings, where demand for skilled technologists continues to rise as therapeutic nuclear medicine evolves rapidly.
More salary data for Oak Ridge, TN:
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 $91,303 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge 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