How long does radiology technician training take in California?

Most people become a Radiology Technician in California through a JRCERT-accredited radiography program, ARRT(R), and state radiologic technologist licensure where required.

How to Become a Radiology Technician in California (2026)

Q: How much do radiology technicians earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), radiology technicians in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $121,260. Employment concentration in California is roughly 0.77 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: Do radiology technicians need a license in California?

Yes. California requires state-level licensing or registration for radiology technicians, administered by the Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

Q: What is the job outlook for radiology technicians in California?

California currently employs approximately 20,900 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California radiologic technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $121,260 ($58.30/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 20,900 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 51.4% above the national median of $80,110 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $121,260 ($58.30/hr)
25th percentile: $95,730 per year
75th percentile: $137,770 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $165,460 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $70,210 per year
Workers employed in California: 20,900
Versus national median: 51.4% above the U.S. median of $80,110
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

California employs about 20,900 radiology technicians earning a median $121,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Radiology Technician here means completing a JRCERT-accredited radiography program, ARRT(R), and state radiologic technologist licensure where required, then applying through Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section.

Compare Radiology Technician Schools in California

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Pasadena City College	71.5	Contact school for pricing	$48,980	Not reported	Yes*	119 mi
2	Casa Loma College-Los Angeles	69.4	Contact school for pricing	$72,581	69%	Yes*	107 mi
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3	Central California School of Continuing Education	68.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	65 mi
4	Moorpark College	65.2	Contact school for pricing	$77,599	44%	—	87 mi
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5	Santa Barbara City College	56.7	Contact school for pricing	$63,514	34%	Yes*	72 mi
6	Career Care Institute	45.6	Contact school for pricing	$44,045	72%	—	93 mi
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7	American Career College-Los Angeles	43.6	Contact school for pricing	$42,969	74%	—	117 mi
8	Fresno City College	41.3	Contact school for pricing	$46,885	24%	—	94 mi
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9	Antelope Valley Community College District	40.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,723	33%	—	92 mi
10	Los Angeles City College	36.5	Contact school for pricing	$52,028	27%	Yes*	116 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

California employs approximately 20,900 radiology technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $121,260 ¹. Nationally, radiology technician employment is projected to grow 4.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 12,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Radiology Technician in California, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: JRCERT-accredited radiography program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a JRCERT-accredited radiography program, ARRT(R), and state radiologic technologist licensure where required
Licensing authority: Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section
Exam: ARRT(R)
Median wage (California): $121,260 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Radiology Technician in California

How to become a Radiology Technician in California? Complete a JRCERT-accredited radiography program, ARRT(R), and state radiologic technologist licensure where required. Apply through Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section.

How long does it take? Most people finish a JRCERT-accredited radiography program, ARRT(R), and state radiologic technologist licensure where required. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section.

Do I need a license in California? Yes. California credentials this role through Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section ³. See the licensing section below.

What do radiology technicians earn in California? The median annual wage for radiology technicians in California is $121,260 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $70,210 and experienced professionals can earn $165,460 or more ¹.

How to Become a Radiology Technician in California

Meet program entry rules. Radiography programs in California typically require a high school diploma or GED. Confirm prerequisites with the program.
Complete a JRCERT-accredited radiography program. Finish a JRCERT-accredited radiography program in California. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass ARRT(R). Pass the ARRT radiography exam. Some states accept ARRT in lieu of a separate state exam.
Apply for state licensure where required. Apply for the state radiologic technologist credential where required. Confirm fluoroscopy or CRT rules with Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Radiology Technician License Requirements in California

Radiologic technologists in California typically complete a JRCERT-accredited program, pass ARRT(R), and obtain a state CRT or equivalent where required. See Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section ³.

Typical path

Meet program entry rules.
Complete a JRCERT-accredited radiography program.
Pass ARRT(R).
Apply to Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section for CRT or the state equivalent when required.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section before you enroll.

Radiology Technician Wages by Metro Area in California

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), radiologic technologists and technicians wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	6,450	$108,030	$111,450	$64,070	$154,860
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	2,850	$141,780	$138,390	$89,980	$176,800
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	2,140	$105,190	$107,610	$71,970	$133,950
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	1,770	$113,480	$111,860	$65,440	$149,390
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	1,360	$135,880	$127,380	$64,480	$172,400
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	1,000	$154,850	$151,170	$98,910	$185,340
Fresno	760	$107,350	$108,530	$74,580	$149,280
Bakersfield-Delano	450	$99,210	$98,320	$68,790	$124,790
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	390	$107,650	$103,340	$62,160	$135,080
Modesto	370	$129,030	$127,310	$78,660	$172,850
Stockton-Lodi	280	$128,480	$121,340	$77,820	$174,390
Vallejo	270	$160,380	$150,010	$103,130	$175,430
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	250	$110,770	$112,990	$62,310	$140,020
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	200	$137,530	$137,780	$85,830	$174,150
Visalia	170	$98,610	$100,090	$74,870	$128,930
Chico	150	$103,000	$98,810	$48,900	$133,060
Salinas	150	$102,330	$102,060	$62,910	$129,920
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	110	$129,920	$117,390	$62,650	$164,890
Redding	90	$129,960	$118,800	$65,850	$168,160
Merced	80	$101,400	$104,160	$57,070	$159,200
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles	80	$103,670	$101,600	$63,340	$134,020
El Centro	60	$92,000	$93,350	$80,570	$123,340
Hanford-Corcoran	60	$98,120	$90,680	$56,310	$120,620
Napa	40	$128,170	$111,860	$67,890	$139,940

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for radiology technicians in California? California currently employs approximately 20,900 radiology technicians ¹. Nationally, radiology technician employment is projected to grow 4.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a radiology technician in California with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California.

How much do radiology technicians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for radiology technicians in California is $121,260, which is $43,600 above the national median of $77,660 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

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Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Public Health - Radiologic Health Branch - Registration and Certification Section - Licensing Information: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/RHB.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)