Radiologic Technologist.
San Jose.
$110,000
median salary, 41% above the national average
$89,000 to $132,000. Last updated August 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Radiologic Technologist offer in San Jose, CA, here is the reality: $89,000 to $132,000, with $110,000 as the midpoint. 41% above the national average. Modality specialization is the primary pay driver, with CT, MRI, and interventional radiology techs earning significantly more than general X-ray techs. Do not accept the first number. 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 San Jose, 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 $154,850 for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034) in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan area, based on 1,000 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$98,910
25th percentile
$126,590
Median
$154,850
75th percentile
$176,280
90th percentile
$185,340
Workers surveyed
1,000
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $110,000 is 29% lower than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Radiologic Technologists and Technicians covers a different population than the Radiologic Technologist title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
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 San Jose 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 $99,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$72,000
to $88,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$94,000
to $116,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$121,000
to $143,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$138,000
to $171,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $27,000 to the total package.
Base
$110,000
Equity
$15,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $137,000
How San Jose compares.
San Jose, CA
$110,000
Cost of living: 38% above average
National Average
$78,000
San Jose is $32,000 above
Radiologic Technologist salary by city.
Salary by role in San Jose.
What you should know.
Here is what the Radiologic Technologist market actually looks like in San Jose. San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley, home to Apple, Google, Adobe, and Cisco. The city consistently ranks among the highest paying metros in the country for technology roles. Competition for talent is fierce, with employers offering aggressive compensation packages including equity, signing bonuses, and premium benefits to attract and retain engineers. 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 San Jose, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 38% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
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: california's top 13.3% state rate applies fully here. While gross salaries in San Jose are among the nation's highest, the tax burden means net pay may not stretch as far as expected. When someone quotes you $110,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Always negotiate equity alongside base salary. San Jose employers expect candidates to evaluate total compensation including RSUs, and leaving equity on the table is leaving money behind. The range for Radiologic Technologists in San Jose runs from $89,000 to $132,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- A Web Developer in San Jose earns $108,000 (2% less)
- The highest-paying role in San Jose is CTO at $402,000
Common questions.
Radiologic Technologist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in San Jose.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Radiologic Technologist Salary in San Jose, CA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/radiologic-technologist/san-jose
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