Radiology Technologist vs Licensed Practical Nurse
Stepping up from Radiology Technologist to Licensed Practical Nurse is a classic healthcare ladder move. We ran the numbers on when the extra months of school pay for themselves and when they don't.
payments Salary
Salary edge
Radiology Technologists earn $15,320 more per year at the median. That's roughly $1,277/month before taxes — a gap that compounds over a career but needs to be weighed against any difference in training time or upfront costs.
State-by-state pay
| State | Radiology Technologist | Licensed Practical Nurse | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $107,670 | $77,170 | +30,500 |
| Massachusetts | $99,910 | $76,560 | +23,350 |
| Oregon | $99,530 | $76,570 | +22,960 |
| Washington | $93,920 | $79,700 | +14,220 |
| District of Columbia | $99,080 | $70,420 | +28,660 |
| Hawaii | $99,670 | $65,560 | +34,110 |
| Alaska | $85,870 | $77,670 | +8,200 |
| Rhode Island | $84,630 | $77,940 | +6,690 |
| Nevada | $88,120 | $73,820 | +14,300 |
| Arizona | $84,480 | $74,020 | +10,460 |
checklist Requirements at a glance
| Factor | Radiology Technologist | Licensed Practical Nurse |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time | 2 years | 1-2 years |
| Est. total cost | — | — |
| Exam | ARRT Radiography Examination | NCLEX-PN |
| License required | Many states | Most states |
| Education | Completion of an accredited radiologic technology program | Completion of a state-approved practical nursing program |
| CE hours / cycle | 23 hrs | 22 hrs |
Barrier to entry
Timeline differs: Radiology Technologist typically takes 2 years, while Licensed Practical Nurse takes 1-2 years.
trending_up Job market
Market outlook
Growth projections are similar — Radiology Technologist at +4.3% and Licensed Practical Nurse at +2.6%. If market size matters to you, Licensed Practical Nurse is the larger field: about 54,400 openings annually against 12,900. That gap shows up most clearly in smaller metro areas where the narrower profession may have zero open positions in a given month.
flag Bottom line
Radiology Technologist pays $15,320/year more at the national median. Over a 10-year career, that's roughly $153,200 in gross earnings — though Radiology Technologist may require more training upfront.
Clock time to credential: 2 years for Radiology Technologist, 1-2 years for Licensed Practical Nurse. Your answer to 'is the longer path worth it' depends mostly on how much your current income replaces what you'd earn while in school.
Frequently asked questions
Which pays better: radiology technologist or licensed practical nurse? expand_more
Which certification takes more effort: radiology technologist or licensed practical nurse? expand_more
Is it common to transition from radiology technologist to licensed practical nurse? expand_more
Which has better job prospects, radiology technologist or licensed practical nurse? expand_more
Is licensing required for radiology technologists and licensed practical nurses? expand_more
Explore each career
More comparisons
source Sources
- Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), most recent annual release.
- Career outlook and annual openings: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Licensing requirements: compiled per-state from primary state licensing boards; per-state sources are cited on each Radiology Technologist and Licensed Practical Nurse state page.
See our full methodology for data refresh schedule and known limitations. Updated 2026.