As one of the most economically stable industries at the moment, the healthcare industry is only expected to continue growing over the next ten years. Radiology is expected to be part of this growth, as an aging population will require the expertise of X-ray technicians who will be able to screen patients as part of diagnostic procedures. An X-ray technician salary is also expected to increase correspondingly, making this a good thing to study for those students who have been thinking about entering the medical field but are unsure of where to begin. Employment opportunities are expected to grow by 17% up through 2018.

An X-ray technician salary will depend on several different factors, including the technician's level of education, responsibility, and experience. The more equipment that a technician is able to operate, and the more highly skilled they are, the more money they can expect to make. At the most basic level, these technicians learn how to operate radiological equipment, under the guidance of a doctor. With one or two years of trade school completed, technicians are capable of operating several different models of X-ray equipment. They also learn how to position patients on the examining table for the clearest image, to help doctors reach a diagnosis.

However, at this level an X-ray technician will not have the technical knowledge to interpret these results on their own. By pursuing a couple more years of college, however, they can increase their X-ray technician salary by being able to also provide a diagnosis in addition to operating the X-ray equipment. This requires two to four years of training, leading to a Bachelor's degree. Typical courses can include biology, anatomy, physics, physiology, medical ethics, and medical terminology in this type of program, although licensing and examinations will vary depending on the state.

With a Bachelor's degree earned online or from a regular four year college, X-ray technicians are able to take on a far wider range of responsibilities. They can perform CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, and mammograms as well as regular X-rays, for a wider range of services. This in turn increases the typical X-ray technician salary. According to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the average salary for an X-ray technician at this level was approximately $65,000 per year, as opposed to $43,000 for X-ray technicians who only have one or two years of education.

On the upper end of the salary spectrum, the X-ray technician salary for a radiologist with several years of experience and a Bachelor's degree could be as high as $300,000, if they specialize in diagnostic radiology. There are many opportunities for advancement within the field of radiology, as it's possible to enter the industry at a lower level of education and then take courses while you are working and gaining hands-on experience. This means that growth potential within the field is quite high, and the demand for qualified X-ray technicians is only expected to keep growing over the next decade or two, as the population ages.