Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 3 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians pays
Career outlook for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates
The job market for the occupations Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear technicians | 6,000 | -7.7% | $104,240 | Associate's degree |
| Nuclear power reactor operators | 5,700 | -15.3% | $122,610 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians vs similar majors
How Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians stacks up against the closest fields in Science Technologies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians Science Technologies · this major | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 98 A | 96 A | 71 B | 67 B |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $89,650 | $89,057 | $68,062 | $65,978 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $45,997 | $56,438 | $53,133 | $38,858 |
| ROI vs cost | +495% | +478% | +197% | +172% |
| Typical debt | $8,500 | $11,582 | $15,513 | $13,913 |
| Colleges offering it | 3 | 18 | 11 | 2 |
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wharton County Junior College Wharton, TX | Certificate | $79,411 | — | +7,275% | Strong return |
| 2 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO | Certificate | $121,988 | — | +4,968% | Strong return |
| 3 | Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS | Certificate | $67,551 | $8,500 | +2,095% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.