Radiologic Technologist.
Detroit.
$70,000
median salary, 10% below the national average
$57,000 to $85,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Radiologic Technologist in Detroit earns a median of $70,000 in 2026. That is 10% below the national average. The range runs from $57,000 to $85,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Modality specialization is the primary pay driver, with CT, MRI, and interventional radiology techs earning significantly more than general X-ray techs. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Radiologic Technologist in Detroit, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $77,530 for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, based on 3,150 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$57,290
25th percentile
$63,510
Median
$77,530
75th percentile
$85,910
90th percentile
$101,420
Workers surveyed
3,150
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034) rather than Radiologic Technologist specifically. The Detroit range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-2034Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $63,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$46,000
to $56,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$60,000
to $74,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$77,000
to $91,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$88,000
to $109,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $17,000 to the total package.
Base
$70,000
Equity
$10,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $87,000
How Detroit compares.
Detroit, MI
$70,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$78,000
Detroit is $8,000 below
Radiologic Technologist salary by city.
Salary by role in Detroit.
What you should know.
Here is what the Radiologic Technologist market actually looks like in Detroit. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Ford, GM, and a growing cluster of mobility startups are investing billions in the region. The city's low cost of living paired with rising tech salaries makes it one of the highest purchasing power metros for engineering roles. Modality specialization is the primary pay driver, with CT, MRI, and interventional radiology techs earning significantly more than general X-ray techs. ARRT certification is the baseline, and additional modality registries add incremental pay. Hospital size, shift availability, and metropolitan location also influence salary levels.
General X-ray techs start at $52,000 to $58,000. Adding CT or MRI certification brings pay to $65,000 to $78,000 within three to five years. Lead techs or imaging supervisors earn $80,000 to $95,000 with departmental oversight and quality assurance responsibilities. In Detroit, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Rad techs receive shift differentials for evenings and weekends, CE reimbursement, and comprehensive benefits. On-call pay for trauma and emergency imaging adds $3,000 to $8,000 annually. Some hospitals offer modality certification bonuses. And on the tax side: michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax. Detroit adds a city income tax of 2.4% for residents. Factor the city tax into your calculations if living within city limits. When someone quotes you $70,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience. The range for Radiologic Technologists in Detroit runs from $57,000 to $85,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Radiologic Technologist salary in other cities.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Radiologic Technologist Salary in Detroit, MI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/radiologic-technologist/detroit
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