How much to radiographers earn in Texas?

The State of Texas employs over 15,000 radiologic technologists, making it the second largest employer for persons in this field in the US. Although Texas is far from being the top paying state – it is close to the national average – the cost of living here is notably lower. The Texas Workforce Commission sees growth from 2014 to 2024 in this profession at 2.1%. Most rad tech professionals have at least an Associates Degree. The figure provided here are averages. Entry-level positions will generally pay lower than the average, while salaries for experienced professionals, or professionals who have advanced studies or who specialize in specific areas, may earn significantly more. To see education options for Texas, go to the schools page We’ve collected data from the Department of Labor for each region of the State of Texas. This data is for 2012. This chart shows those cities and metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels. [symple_divider style=”fadein” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”20px”] The following table shows salary data by hour and annually for metropolitan areas.

Where	Employment	Mean hourly wage	Mean annual wage
Abilene, TX	70	$23.95	$49,820
Amarillo, TX	90	$22.7	$47,220
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	760	$24.25	$50,440
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	170	$20.59	$42,830
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	170	$23.94	$49,790
College Station-Bryan, TX	110	$25.35	$52,730
Corpus Christi, TX	350	$24.99	$51,970
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division	2520	$27.67	$57,550
El Paso, TX	320	$24.44	$50,830
Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division	910	$27.43	$57,040
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX	2860	$25.69	$53,430
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX	330	$23.5	$48,870
Longview, TX	140	$24.03	$49,970
Lubbock, TX	410	$22.24	$46,250
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	230	$26.02	$54,120
Odessa, TX	70	$24.48	$50,920
San Angelo, TX	30	$24.04	$50,000
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	1020	$24.96	$51,920
Sherman-Denison, TX	60	$28.11	$58,470
Texarkana-Texarkana, TX-AR	110	$21.15	$44,000
Tyler, TX	200	$23.19	$48,240
Victoria, TX	120	$24.78	$51,550
Waco, TX	130	$25.52	$53,090
Wichita Falls, TX	110	$22.08	$45,930

Radiologic technologist salaries in Texas

Texas employs more than 20,000 radiologic technologists and technicians, making it one of the largest job markets in the country for this profession. According to BLS May 2025 OEWS data, the median annual wage in Texas is $78,630. That figure sits above the midpoint of a wide range: the lowest 10% of earners take home around $48,550 per year, while the top 10% earn $102,630 or more.

Where you fall on that scale depends on your setting, your shift, your specialty, and how many years you have worked. Hospital-based positions, overnight shifts, and trauma centers tend to pay more than outpatient clinics. Your earnings are also likely to grow as you add certifications and experience.

How pay changes when you specialize

If you complete an MRI specialty credential after working as a radiologic technologist, your earning potential rises considerably. BLS May 2025 OEWS data shows that MRI technologists in Texas earn a median of $96,780 per year. That is more than $18,000 above the median for general radiologic technologists. The 25th percentile for MRI techs in Texas is $83,860, which means even newer MRI specialists typically out-earn experienced general techs.

Texas has about 2,930 employed MRI technologists. That is a much smaller workforce than the general rad tech pool, which means competition for open positions can be lower. Many employers will pay for continuing education or specialty training once you are on staff.

Radiation therapy is another common path. Radiation therapists treat cancer patients using high-energy beams, working alongside oncologists. You will find dedicated training programs for that specialty in the section below.

JRCERT-accredited radiography programs in Texas

JRCERT stands for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. It is the national accrediting body for radiography programs. Graduating from a JRCERT-accredited program is required before you can sit for the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) board exam, which is the national credential employers expect. All 40 programs in the table below hold active JRCERT accreditation.

The table shows resident tuition for the full program, completion rate, board exam pass rate, and job placement rate where JRCERT has published those figures. Use these numbers as a starting comparison, then contact each school directly to confirm current costs and available financial aid.

A note on accreditation length: programs listed as “Probation” are still accredited, but JRCERT has identified areas that need improvement. You can still graduate and sit for the ARRT exam from a program on probation, but you should ask the program directly about its improvement plan before enrolling.

Tuition figures are resident rates for the full program as reported to JRCERT. Non-resident rates are higher at most schools. Contact each program for current fees, prerequisite costs, and financial aid options.

How to read the program data

Completion rate

The completion rate tells you what percentage of students who start the program finish it. A lower rate does not always mean the program is poor. Some programs admit students who later decide the field is not for them, or who face personal circumstances that require them to stop. Still, a rate below 75% is worth asking about when you contact the program.

Exam pass rate

The exam pass rate shows what percentage of graduates pass the ARRT board exam on their first attempt. This is the most direct measure of how well a program prepares you for licensure. Rates above 90% are strong. Rates below 80% may signal that graduates need extra study, or that the curriculum needs improvement. Ask any program with a lower rate what support it gives students before the exam.

Job placement rate

Most programs in Texas report placement rates at or near 100%. That reflects both a strong job market and the fact that many clinical training sites hire their own students after graduation. A placement rate below 95% is worth discussing with the program before you enroll.

Program length

Most Texas radiography programs run 21 to 24 months. Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls runs 48 months because it is a bachelor’s degree program rather than an associate degree program. South College in Dallas offers an 18-month path. Shorter programs are not automatically easier. They may simply have a more compressed schedule.

Tuition range

Resident tuition across Texas programs ranges from about $209 at South Plains College in Lubbock to $44,569 at Southwest University at El Paso. That is a very wide spread. Community colleges and hospital-based programs are almost always the most affordable option. Private career schools tend to cost significantly more. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and subsidized loans, is available at most accredited institutions, and some Texas programs offer scholarship assistance through their affiliated health systems.

What to look for in clinical training sites

Every accredited program includes clinical rotations, which means you will spend time working in real hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, and specialty clinics. The variety of those sites matters. A program with rotations across emergency rooms, pediatric hospitals, orthopedic clinics, and outpatient imaging centers will expose you to a broader range of patients and equipment than one limited to a single hospital.

Programs based in major metros like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin tend to have longer lists of clinical partners and more specialized settings. Programs in smaller cities like Abilene, Paris, or Wharton have fewer sites but often give students more hands-on time per rotation because there are fewer students competing for the same cases.

When you visit a program or attend an information session, ask how many clinical hours you will complete, how rotations are assigned, and whether the program has relationships with employers who actively recruit from its graduating class.

Programs with evening, weekend, or distance options

Most radiography programs in Texas require full-time, daytime attendance for clinical rotations. That said, a small number of programs have some scheduling flexibility:

• Dallas College/Brookhaven Campus offers evening and weekend options.
• Houston City College/Coleman College of Health Sciences has evening and part-time tracks.
• McLennan Community College and Midwestern State University list distance education components.
• St. Philip’s College in San Antonio has evening, weekend, and part-time options.
• Southwest University at El Paso lists evening scheduling.

Distance education in radiography typically applies to didactic (classroom) coursework only. Clinical rotations must be completed in person regardless of how the program delivers its lectures. If you need flexible scheduling, confirm exactly which parts of the program are flexible before you apply.

Related imaging and therapy programs in Texas

Once you are working as a radiologic technologist, several advanced imaging and therapy specialties are open to you. The programs below are JRCERT-accredited programs in Texas that focus on those specialties. They are separate from the radiography programs listed above and are typically pursued after you have completed your radiography credential and gained some clinical experience.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapists deliver precisely targeted radiation treatments to cancer patients. The work is highly technical and requires close coordination with radiation oncologists and medical physicists. Two Texas institutions offer JRCERT-accredited radiation therapy programs:

• Amarillo College (Amarillo): 24-month program, resident tuition $2,964. Completion rate 89%, exam pass rate 89%, job placement rate 100%. Accreditation: 8 years. Distance education is available for didactic components. Clinical sites span Texas and multiple other states.
• Texas State University – Round Rock (Round Rock): 26-month program, resident tuition $12,220. Completion rate 100%, exam pass rate 75%, job placement rate 100%. Accreditation: 8 years. Clinical sites are concentrated in Central Texas and the San Antonio metro.
• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston): 24-month program, resident tuition $5,673 (non-resident $24,252). Completion rate 77%, exam pass rate 92%, job placement rate 100%. Accreditation: 8 years. Trains students at one of the largest cancer centers in the world, with additional rotations at affiliated sites in Texas and Arizona.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI technologists use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves, rather than X-rays, to produce detailed images of soft tissue, organs, and the brain. Texas has one JRCERT-accredited MRI-specific program:

• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston): 12-month program, resident tuition $4,340 (non-resident $19,068). Completion rate 100%, exam pass rate 95%, job placement rate 100%. Accreditation: 5 years. Clinical rotations include major Houston-area medical centers and Texas Children’s Hospital campuses.

As noted in the salary section above, BLS May 2025 OEWS data puts the Texas median for MRI technologists at $96,780 per year, well above the median for general radiologic technologists.

Medical dosimetry

Medical dosimetrists (specialists who calculate the precise radiation doses used in cancer treatment) work alongside radiation oncologists and physicists. It is a small, highly specialized field. Two Texas programs hold JRCERT accreditation:

• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston): 16-month program, resident tuition $9,062 (non-resident $37,412). Completion rate 88%, exam pass rate 83%, job placement rate 100%. Accreditation: 8 years. Distance education and clinical distance delivery options are available. Clinical training sites span the country through the MD Anderson network.
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (San Antonio): 12-month program, tuition $18,000 (same for resident and non-resident). Completion rate 100%, exam pass rate 83%, job placement rate 100%. Accreditation: 5 years. Clinical training is at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center on the UT Health San Antonio campus. The program accepts only 6 students per cohort.

Next steps

Compare the programs that are close to where you live or where you plan to work. Look at exam pass rates and placement rates together. A program with a 100% placement rate is only as useful as its pass rate, because you need to pass the board exam before you can be placed. Once you have a short list of two or three programs, contact each admissions office directly. Ask about prerequisite courses, application deadlines, class size, and what financial aid is available. Most programs hold information sessions or campus visits that let you see the simulation labs and meet current students before you apply.