Radiology nurses help patients with certain medical exams.
Radiology focuses on the study and application of imaging technologies used for diagnosing medical conditions. Radiology nurses are health care professionals who care for patients who have been prescribed radiology tests. As of December 2009, the average annual salary of a radiology nurse in the U.S. was $56,000, according to the website iHire Radiology.
Education
To qualify as a radiology nurse, you will need a college nursing degree. You will also need to take an exam to qualify as a registered nurse.
Certification
After working as a registered radiology nurse for a few years, you can take an additional exam, which will award you the title of a certified radiology nurse. This certification allows you to expand your responsibilities and boost your salary beyond the average pay.
Salary
The average salary for a radiology nurse varies from state to state. However, the national average for a new nurse is $40,000 per year, according to iHire Radiology. With six to 10 years of experience, a radiology nurses can expect an annual salary of $60,000. The most experienced radiology nurses earn about $75,000 per year, with room for growth into the six-figure range if the nurse become the head nurse of a radiology department.
Retirement
Most radiology nurses with 20 or more years of service can expect $45,000 to $60,000 year in pension income. The retirement income is usually 80 percent of the nurse's salary during the last five years of work.
