Radiology Technologist vs Medical Coder
Choosing between Radiology Technologist and Medical Coder is partly a pay question and partly a temperament question. Pay differs more than most career guides admit; temperament fit is yours to judge.
payments Salary
Salary edge
Radiology Technologists earn $27,410 more per year at the median. That's roughly $2,284/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 | Medical Coder | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $107,670 | $59,700 | +47,970 |
| District of Columbia | $99,080 | $64,690 | +34,390 |
| Hawaii | $99,670 | $62,990 | +36,680 |
| Massachusetts | $99,910 | $57,220 | +42,690 |
| Oregon | $99,530 | $57,260 | +42,270 |
| Washington | $93,920 | $62,250 | +31,670 |
| New York | $91,520 | $59,750 | +31,770 |
| Nevada | $88,120 | $60,530 | +27,590 |
| Rhode Island | $84,630 | $63,330 | +21,300 |
| Connecticut | $85,370 | $58,250 | +27,120 |
checklist Requirements at a glance
| Factor | Radiology Technologist | Medical Coder |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time | 2 years | 4-24 months (depending on program type) |
| Est. total cost | — | — |
| Exam | ARRT Radiography Examination | National certification exams (e.g., CPC, CCS, CCA, CBCS) |
| License required | Many states | Rarely |
| Education | Completion of an accredited radiologic technology program | High school diploma or GED; completion of a medical billing and coding certificate or associate program is recommended and often preferred by employers. |
| CE hours / cycle | 23 hrs | 35 hrs |
Barrier to entry
Timeline differs: Radiology Technologist typically takes 2 years, while Medical Coder takes 4-24 months (depending on program type). Radiology Technologist licensing is more universal — required in 86% of states versus 0% for Medical Coder.
trending_up Job market
Market outlook
Growth projections are similar — Radiology Technologist at +4.3% and Medical Coder at +7.1%.
flag Bottom line
Nationally, Radiology Technologist pulls in roughly $27,410 more per year than Medical Coder. Whether that's enough to justify a different training path depends on your state's specific labor market and how your own earnings scale with experience.
There's a real time gap — Radiology Technologist at 2 years versus Medical Coder at 4-24 months (depending on program type). Whether the extra months pay back depends on what the longer-path earnings actually look like in your state.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes more, radiology technologist or medical coder? expand_more
Is it harder to become a radiology technologist or a medical coder? expand_more
How hard is it to switch between radiology technologist and medical coder? expand_more
Which has better job prospects, radiology technologist or medical coder? expand_more
Is licensing required for radiology technologists and medical coders? expand_more
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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 Medical Coder state page.
See our full methodology for data refresh schedule and known limitations. Updated 2026.