X Ray Tech National Wages

• The median annual income for radiologic technicians and technologists at all levels of experience from across the United States was $53,240 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10 percent of X-ray techs earned less than $35,700 per year while the top 10 percent earned more than $75,440 per year. The mean hourly wage for X-ray techs was $26.05.
  
  

Medical Assistant National Wages

• The median annual income for medical assistants at all levels of experience from across the United States was $28,650 as of May 2009, according to the bureau. The bottom 10 percent of medical assistants earned up to $20,750 per year, while the top 10 percent earned $39,970 per year or more. The mean hourly wage for medical assistants was $14.16.
  
  

Geographic Location

• The geographic location where health care professionals such as medical assistants and X-ray technicians work can significantly affect their income. X-ray technicians who worked in the state of Massachusetts earned the highest mean annual wages in the country for their profession, at $68,530. Medical assistants who worked in the District of Columbia earned the highest mean annual wages in the country for their profession, at $37,790.
  
  

Considerations

• Health care professionals who work in major metropolitan regions tend to earn higher wages than those who work in rural areas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that demand for X-ray techs may vary significantly by region, and those who are able and willing to relocate should have greater employment opportunities. Employers are more likely to hire X-ray techs and medical assistants who have formal training and are certified by an independent, non-governmental credentialing organization.