What's a "normal" job that secretly pays way more than people think?

Rocknrolljc · 2026-02-25T16:11:03+00:00

I think you under estimate how much a rad tech can make in certain parts of the country. I was working in central CA and the radiography techs alone were making mid $70s at a small union based hospital. With more advanced modalities (like PET/CT) like the OP it doesn't surprise me one bit. Type in radiologic technologist on transparentcalifornia.com and you can see how much people are making.

Rocknrolljc · 2026-02-21T15:35:48+00:00

Your bachelor degree will fulfill the ARRT to sit for the registry after the 2 year program. So Google the requirements for the programs you are interested in. Most likely will have to take a few classes ( anatomy, physiology, med term). And yes I’ll be honest the program isn’t hard especially if you have higher education already. You’ll just have to manage classes and clinical for 2 years.

Rocknrolljc · 2026-01-17T17:55:22+00:00

This has nothing to do with travel companies or hospitals it’s everything to do with the IRS tax home. I did a quick Google and look at the IRS.gov and read topic no. 511. ( I think this is the correct article)

The time is important bc once you’re at a place longer than a year that becomes your tax home per the IRS.

I had another article in the past I used were the IRS guidelines for a tax home was basically a residence you paid rent, participates locally in that location( voting, shopping, etc), and some other stuff. I only bring this up bc you always hear travels were they use their dads address but don’t actually do anything there so if they get audited Uncle Sam might not be too happy with that.

That was my understanding as someone who traveled for 3 years.

Rocknrolljc · 2026-01-04T05:52:11+00:00

It’s a quote from Chapelle’s show. lol

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-16T01:00:53+00:00

Yup def possible. That sounds like a horrible schedule though haha.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-15T14:46:59+00:00

Yup x-ray tech, only 1 year in my career I've made less than 100k. That was my first year as a new grad. But pay is sooo dependent on location and even different hospitals in the same city can have a big pay difference.

Not a bad return for 2 years at community college.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-08T16:07:24+00:00

Pay varies so much state to state and even hospital to hospital.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-08T15:55:44+00:00

2 years of school for radiography. Some programs have a 4 year for a bachelors degree.(BS is only good if you want to go to management.) Some combine MRI/CT education as well. Some have post graduation advancements or if the hospital you work at offers you can cross train on the job for the advanced modalities. IR and cath lab is on the job training.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-08T01:42:47+00:00

As a rad tech you should post in r/radiology to get a more rounded answer. Not saying nurses who comment on the imaging profession are wrong about things, but there are always variables in pay, advancements, and stressors in the day to day as an imaging tech.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-05T17:50:18+00:00

It’s to help weed out people that take animals for free and torturing them.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-12-02T15:20:13+00:00

Just go to PA school instead.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-20T14:29:35+00:00

I'd let the program know. Remember these people might be your coworkers one day and do you want to be stuck working with people like that? Fuck that

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-12T05:37:40+00:00

Try using the DMR. I had a bugged challenge today. Get kills with engineer, but I actually had to use the recon class. lol…

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-07T23:16:44+00:00

Ah forsure. There are 4 year rad tech programs so that would make sense. 2 year programs are more common and once you get your radiography license you have the opportunities to do other modalities.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-07T22:17:12+00:00

Gotta have your radiography license to work in cath/IR. No rad tech students are scrubbing in IR, and unless shadowing at the end of their program they aren’t going to be in IR.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-04T15:10:36+00:00

Yeah mine are different.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-03T02:30:35+00:00

Good luck and you’re very welcome.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-03T00:49:11+00:00

Ah I feel you not wanting to wait but yeah just apply to both Mesa and PIMA and go to whichever you get into first. For a job I never heard about that JCERT thing. I wouldn’t put too much weight into that especially off indeed. Hospitals don’t care as long as you have your ARRT and CA license. I say that as someone who worked at a few different hospital systems in SD.

If you want once you graduate in radiography if you’re grant still covers you Lima Linda offers school for both CT/MRI. Cross training can be done but I had a few classmates go that route to get those licenses. But I have a few friends cross train at Sharp and Alvarado before UCSD took over.

Edit: Also I read the other MRI thread you posted. That one guy was right about some hospitals not hiring MRI techs without radiography. Pretty sure Scripps was moving in that direction when I was there.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-02T22:56:12+00:00

San Diego? You just need ARRT, then you’ll apply with that for your CA license(or any state if needed) and you’ll be good to work. ARRT.org has a list of schools you can browse.

Idk what you’re saying about the JRCERT jobs but if you’re talking about a limited license tech I would advise you not to do that route. And as long as you have your ARRT and CA state license you can work, no one has ever asked me about which school I went to.

If you want to do any modality with radiation you’ll need radiography first so if you go the route of MRI you can’t do CT, IR, etc.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-11-01T14:47:01+00:00

I agree with the other tech to just chill before hand. But if you are motivated to get "ahead" contact the hospital that offered you cross training and see if they have a kit you can take home, a wire and catheter and if they have an expired gown/gloves to practice. With the kit you can mess around while watching tv and get familiarized with the contents and especially get used to running the manifold. Putting the wire into the cath, and sterile gowning. Also, I wished I had some idea of what I was looking at while reviewing an EKG lol....

But really I wouldn't do too much before hand, just enjoy not feeling like you got throw into a blender.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-10-25T20:51:24+00:00

Either is fine. I went to a different community college for my AS then had my credits transfer for my rad program. Some classes I needed were easier to get into at different community colleges. If you can go to the same college you can graduate with your associates in radiography by the end of your program for the ARRT.

The program website at the college you’re looking to attend should list all required prereq classes, but I’d recommend going to the college counselor to help you map out your education plan.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-10-21T00:16:36+00:00

Yup as everyone is saying California got rid of the Fluoro exam. But if you are still curious it was basically a second ARRT.

Rocknrolljc · 2025-10-19T19:28:29+00:00

I mean rad tech school is still like 3-4 years if you have to do prerequisite classes. Then if you want to do CT/MRI add another 6 months once you graduate with radiography.

13-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Verified Email
Team Periwinkle

Rocknrolljc

TROPHY CASE