Radiologic Technologist Jobs in Atlanta, GA
Radiologic technologists in metro Atlanta earn a median of about $38.80 an hour, well above the Georgia figure, with X-ray work spread from Grady Downtown to the Pill Hill hospitals in Sandy Springs. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires and how to train.
Current radiologic technologist Openings in Atlanta, GA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Radiologic Technologist Work in Atlanta
Atlanta's imaging work follows its hospital clusters. Grady Memorial on Jesse Hill Jr Drive runs the city's only Level I trauma center, so its X-ray, CT and OR imaging teams work around the clock. Piedmont Atlanta Hospital on Peachtree Road staffs diagnostic and night radiology, Emory University Hospital Midtown covers the core, and Northside Hospital Atlanta anchors Pill Hill at GA-400 and I-285, with outpatient imaging centers spread across the suburbs, including Gwinnett.
Two things set Atlanta apart. The metro trains its own techs through hospital-based schools at Grady and Emory, so new graduates often land at the hospital where they did clinicals. And the market pays for advanced modalities: techs who add CT, MRI or mammography move into a higher band quickly, with the Atlanta VA in Decatur posting MRI technologist roles at the GS-9 level.
Top Atlanta Employers for Radiologic Technologists
These Atlanta health systems employ radiologic technologists in hospital and outpatient imaging:
- Grady Health System - the Downtown safety-net hospital recruits radiologic, CT, MRI and mammography technologists and runs its own School of Radiologic Technology.
- Piedmont Atlanta Hospital - the Peachtree Road hospital hires diagnostic and night-shift rad techs, and its postings accept new ARRT graduates.
- Emory Healthcare - Emory University Hospital Midtown and other Emory sites hire ARRT technologists, usually with at least a year of experience.
- Northside Hospital - the Pill Hill hospital and Northside's outpatient imaging centers hire radiology techs for inpatient, outpatient and PRN shifts.
- Joseph M. Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center - the Clairmont Road hospital in Decatur hires diagnostic radiologic technologists through USAJOBS and requires ARRT (R) certification.
Radiologic Technologist Salaries in Atlanta
- Entry level: about $25 to $32 per hour for new ARRT graduates.
- Experienced: roughly $33 to $44 per hour, with night and weekend differentials on top.
- Senior and advanced modality: $45 to $53 per hour or more for CT, MRI and lead technologists.
These are estimates based on 2025 federal wage data for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro, where the middle of the market sits near $80,700 a year. Pay moves with modality, shift and employer: the Atlanta VA posted a GS-9 MRI technologist role in October 2026 at $90,775 to $118,014 a year, and hospital nights and weekends usually carry a premium.
How to Become a Radiologic Technologist in Atlanta
Georgia does not license radiologic technologists, so the credential that matters is national registration with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Nearly every Atlanta hospital requires ARRT registration plus American Heart Association BLS at hire. You earn ARRT eligibility by finishing an accredited program. Grady's School of Radiologic Technology runs a 23-month certificate that starts each August, Emory University School of Medicine sponsors a 24-month Radiologic Technology Certificate, and Atlanta Technical College on Metropolitan Parkway offers a 77-credit Radiologic Technology associate degree with a fall start.
What the Job Involves
Radiologic technologists position patients and equipment to capture diagnostic X-ray images of bones, chests and abdomens. Daily work includes checking orders, explaining the exam, shielding patients and staff from radiation, running portable X-rays in the ED, ICU and operating room, reviewing image quality and sending studies to the radiologist through PACS.
Skills Employers Look For
- ARRT (R) registration in good standing
- AHA BLS certification
- Portable, trauma and OR imaging experience
- Radiation safety and positioning accuracy
- PACS and electronic health record familiarity
- Calm patient communication in a fast ED
- Willingness to work nights, weekends or PRN
Career Path and Advancement
Most Atlanta techs start in general diagnostic X-ray, often on nights at a hospital like Piedmont Atlanta or Grady. From there the ladder runs to CT, MRI, mammography or interventional radiology, each with its own ARRT credential and a pay bump, then to lead technologist, imaging supervisor and department manager. Grady and Emory both run radiography schools, so experienced techs can also move into clinical instruction.
Related Careers in Atlanta
If imaging interests you, these Atlanta healthcare roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a state license to be a radiologic technologist in Atlanta?
No. Georgia does not license or certify radiologic technologists. Atlanta employers require ARRT registration instead, so passing the ARRT radiography exam after an accredited program is the real gate into the job.
How much do radiologic technologists make in Atlanta?
Federal 2025 wage data puts the Atlanta metro median near $38.80 an hour, or about $80,700 a year. New graduates usually start in the mid-$20s to low $30s an hour, while CT and MRI technologists can pass $50 an hour.
How long does it take to become a rad tech in Atlanta?
About two years of program time. Grady's certificate runs 23 months and Emory's runs 24 months, while Atlanta Technical College's associate degree takes a minimum of seven semesters. You then sit for the ARRT exam.
Can new graduates get hired at Atlanta hospitals?
Yes. Piedmont Atlanta Hospital has posted diagnostic rad tech roles that require ARRT registration and BLS but no prior experience. Other systems, such as Emory Midtown, ask for a year of experience, so night and PRN roles are a common first step.
Which imaging jobs pay the most in Atlanta?
Advanced modalities pay the most. CT, MRI and mammography technologists earn more than general X-ray techs, and the Atlanta VA's GS-9 MRI role topped $118,000 a year. Adding an ARRT post-primary credential is the quickest way to move up.
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