Radiographers in California (CA) earn an average salary of $95,170 with strong job prospects.
The following overview of radiology schools in California will guide you find the best school near you for your interests and needs.
Please note that radiographers in California are also known as radiology technologists/technicians, rad techs and x ray technicians/techs. Throughout this page we may interchange between the terms radiology tech school in California and x ray tech school in California.
Top Radiology Tech Schools in California
In order to become a radiology tech in California you will need to graduate from an approved/accredited program.
Listed below are the top 37 radiology tech programs in California which have been accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) and/or American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) recognised programs.
| College | City | Degree | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Career College | Anaheim | ARRT | |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Mills-Peninsula Health Services | Burlingame | Certificate | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Pima Medical Institute | Chula Vista | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Arrowhead Regional Medical Center | Colton | Certificate | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | Concord | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Cypress College | Cypress | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| San Joaquin General Hospital | French Camp | Certificate | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Antelope Valley College | Lancaster | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | ARRT | |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| American Career College | Los Angeles | ARRT | |
| Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science | Los Angeles | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| East Los Angeles Occupational Center | Los Angeles | Certificate | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Yuba College | Marysville | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Merced College | Merced | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| California State University | Northridge | Bachelor's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Merritt College | Oakland | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| American Career College | Ontario | ARRT | |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Certificate, Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Cañada College | Redwood City | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences | Richmond | Certificate, Bachelor's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Bachelor's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | Sacramento | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Certificate, Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Certificate, Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| El Camino College | Torrance | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| L.A. County Harbor/UCLA Medical Center | Torrance | Certificate | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | Van Nuys | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
| Mt. San Antonio College | Walnut | Associate's Degree | JRCERT, ARRT |
Once you have graduated you will need to take additional licensing exams before applying for you radiology tech license. Licensing exams are set by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Your license will allow you to work as a radiology tech in California however you will need to maintain your license regularly and fulfil continuing education requirements.
For more information on licensing, certification, and continuing education requirements for radiology techs you can contact the California Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch on the details below.
State Board: California Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch
Website: https://cdph.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 327-5106
How much do Radiology Techs in California make?
The average annual salary for radiology techs in California is $95,170. This equates to an hourly wage of $45.75 per hour.
| Salary | $95,170 |
| # Employed | 18,290 |
| Hourly Pay | $45.75 |
| Top 10% | $128,770 |
| Bottom 10% | $48,840 |
Over the past five years salary levels for radiology techs in the state had a large increase of by 22.6%, or $17,520.
Radiology techs in California earn over 43% more than the national average of $66,490 for the profession.
Salary levels within the state will vary depending on your metro area, years of experience, and place of employment.
- The bottom 10% of earners (entry-level) made just $48,840 whilst the top 10% made $128,770 per annum.
- Those located in Vallejo-Fairfield earned $127,890 per annum, whilst those in El Centro made just $76,700 per annum.
The table below further breaks down earnings from radiology techs across the main metro areas in the state.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | # Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $79,940 | 400 |
| Chico | $83,980 | 130 |
| El Centro | $76,700 | 60 |
| Fresno | $88,550 | 450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $85,070 | 6,590 |
| Madera | - | 80 |
| Merced | $92,440 | 60 |
| Modesto | $100,340 | 250 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $84,360 | 350 |
| Redding | $93,400 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $87,360 | 1,670 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade | $107,450 | 1,150 |
| Salinas | $96,930 | 150 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad | $92,940 | 1,370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | $118,100 | 2,490 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $118,480 | 930 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande | $78,020 | 110 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $94,660 | 120 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $88,990 | 240 |
| Santa Rosa | $112,270 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $101,350 | 260 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield | $127,890 | 250 |
| Visalia-Porterville | $83,030 | 170 |
| Yuba City | $84,750 | 60 |
Radiology Tech Jobs in California
There are currently 18,290 people employed as radiology techs in California. This equates to a small change of 0.8%, or 150 jobs, in the 5 years since 2016.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 6% increase in radiology tech positions across the country between 2021 and 2031.
Related careers in California
The table below compares radiology tech income and employment in California with other closely related careers.
| Salary | Employment | |
|---|---|---|
| Radiology Tech | $95,170 | 18,290 |
| Ultrasound Tech | $109,350 | 7,780 |
| MRI Tech | $108,580 | 2,470 |
| Cardiovascular Tech | $77,330 | 4,950 |
| Nuclear Med Tech | $124,930 | 1,420 |