Career Explorer Healthcare (clinical)
Human edge, growing
Nuclear medicine technologists
Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 54% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +4.4% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and emotional intelligence.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $101,370
- Job growth to 2035
- +4.4%
- Openings a year
- 800
- People doing it (2025)
- 17,400
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Explain medical information to patients or family members
- Perform administrative or clerical activities
- Prepare mixtures or solutions
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate medical equipment
- Maintain health or medical records
- Follow standard healthcare safety procedures to protect patient and staff members
What the work looks like
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
- Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
- Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
- Record and process results of procedures.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Diagnostic medical sonographersHuman edge, growing, Index 84, +13.9%
- Radiologic technologists and techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 68, +5.0%
- Veterinary technologists and techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 95, +9.4%
- Radiation therapistsHuman edge, steady, Index 63, +2.8%
Also known as: Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT), Nuclear Cardiology Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT), Staff Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Technologist (Nuclear Medicine Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography Technologist), Radiation Safety Officer, Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.