Imaging, Surgical Tech & Respiratory Care programs: earnings, debt and schools by state
1,964 certificate and associate-degree programs at 1,256 U.S. schools teach radiologic technologists, sonographers, surgical technologists, respiratory therapists and EMTs. Federal data shows what past graduates earned and borrowed. Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention and Treatment Professions (CIP 51.09) includes radiography, sonography, nuclear medicine, respiratory care, surgical technology and EMT/paramedic programs. Associate-level programs are common.
Best-paying imaging & surgical tech programs (one year after completion)
Ranked by the median earnings of completers working and not enrolled, among programs with at least 10 earners reported. High earnings can reflect local labor markets and who enrolls, so compare debt and completion too.
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 236 | $137,601 | $25,311 | $288 |
| Ohlone College | Fremont, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 13 | $126,722 | – | – |
| Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold, MD | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 65 | $123,249 | $22,458 | $255 |
| Napa Valley College | Napa, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 20 | $112,105 | – | – |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 23 | $111,804 | – | – |
| Skyline College | San Bruno, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 27 | $110,516 | – | – |
| Sacramento Ultrasound Institute | Sacramento, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 49 | $107,769 | $19,300 | $219 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 15 | $101,725 | $19,683 | $224 |
| Molloy University | Rockville Centre, NY | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 15 | $100,322 | $24,500 | $278 |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey | Cranford, NJ | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 48 | $95,983 | $27,000 | $307 |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | San Jose, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 294 | $93,163 | $23,967 | $272 |
| College of Eastern Idaho | Idaho Falls, ID | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 11 | $93,039 | $10,786 | $123 |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 50 | $90,909 | $9,205 | $105 |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster, CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 28 | $90,807 | $15,125 | $172 |
| Dallas College | Dallas, TX | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | 218 | $90,465 | $14,003 | $159 |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
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Imaging & Surgical Tech programs by state
| State | Programs | Schools | Median 1-yr earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 38 | 22 | $50,630 | $13,712 |
| Alaska | 4 | 3 | $67,889 | $26,500 |
| Arizona | 41 | 25 | $59,703 | $15,750 |
| Arkansas | 50 | 28 | $52,080 | $14,966 |
| California | 221 | 140 | $66,661 | $21,902 |
| Colorado | 33 | 20 | $56,927 | $12,734 |
| Connecticut | 10 | 7 | $75,041 | $22,314 |
| Delaware | 2 | 2 | $67,598 | $16,054 |
| Florida | 106 | 69 | $55,932 | $13,876 |
| Georgia | 54 | 31 | $53,191 | $14,946 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 1 | $81,796 | $14,000 |
| Idaho | 12 | 8 | $62,182 | $10,786 |
| Illinois | 81 | 46 | $60,200 | $11,812 |
| Indiana | 19 | 14 | $59,950 | $17,020 |
| Iowa | 33 | 19 | $59,591 | $13,562 |
| Kansas | 38 | 24 | $57,334 | $16,696 |
| Kentucky | 41 | 23 | $56,390 | $15,115 |
| Louisiana | 30 | 21 | $58,903 | $20,454 |
| Maine | 11 | 7 | $65,586 | $15,313 |
| Maryland | 36 | 21 | $63,643 | $20,000 |
| Massachusetts | 30 | 21 | $74,272 | $15,588 |
| Michigan | 59 | 37 | $56,190 | $17,301 |
| Minnesota | 37 | 24 | $67,993 | $21,625 |
| Mississippi | 26 | 15 | $54,234 | $13,125 |
| Missouri | 42 | 30 | $61,379 | $15,252 |
| Montana | 8 | 6 | $52,665 | $20,407 |
| Nebraska | 19 | 11 | $63,132 | $21,625 |
| Nevada | 15 | 10 | $66,429 | $20,307 |
| New Hampshire | 6 | 5 | $69,799 | $20,000 |
| New Jersey | 44 | 37 | $69,656 | $23,790 |
| New Mexico | 31 | 18 | $58,915 | $10,865 |
| New York | 63 | 44 | $71,031 | $20,375 |
| North Carolina | 92 | 55 | $58,105 | $16,000 |
| North Dakota | 9 | 6 | $56,978 | $28,639 |
| Ohio | 95 | 67 | $58,951 | $18,000 |
| Oklahoma | 36 | 29 | $51,069 | $16,000 |
| Oregon | 26 | 16 | $78,476 | $23,146 |
| Pennsylvania | 66 | 52 | $61,936 | $19,595 |
| Rhode Island | 4 | 3 | $64,688 | $20,550 |
| South Carolina | 28 | 15 | $58,440 | $18,925 |
| South Dakota | 10 | 8 | $58,116 | $16,427 |
| Tennessee | 44 | 28 | $50,106 | $15,336 |
| Texas | 135 | 76 | $61,654 | $15,240 |
| Utah | 18 | 13 | $58,693 | $10,700 |
| Vermont | 2 | 1 | $73,642 | $17,625 |
| Virginia | 56 | 32 | $57,279 | $14,174 |
| Washington | 33 | 24 | $69,236 | $19,544 |
| West Virginia | 22 | 16 | $53,657 | $12,198 |
| Wisconsin | 37 | 21 | $57,471 | $12,573 |
| Wyoming | 9 | 5 | $61,535 | $17,068 |
States with fewer than three programs have no detail page.
What to know before you enroll
Most of these roles require a national credential or state license, and many credentialing bodies require graduation from a specifically accredited program. Check programmatic accreditation, not just the school's overall accreditation.
Questions to ask every school
- Is the specific program accredited by the body that the credential exam requires?
- What is the first-time pass rate on the credential exam?
- How are clinical placements assigned?
For national pay and job outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics profile: Radiologic and MRI Technologists.
Frequently asked questions
How much do imaging & surgical tech graduates earn?
Among 854 imaging & surgical tech programs that report earnings, the median first-year figure is $59,514 for certificate programs ($53,544) and $60,642 for associate programs. These are medians of past graduates and vary by state and employer.
How much debt do imaging & surgical tech students take on?
The median federal loan debt among borrowers across programs reporting it is $16,750. Many students in short programs borrow nothing; the figure only covers borrowers.
Is the data current?
It comes from the College Scorecard release dated October 15, 2026. The Department updates it annually and each figure describes graduates from earlier years.
Can I trust a school's own job-placement claims?
Treat them as a starting point. Ask for the placement rate definition, the number of graduates counted and the time window, then compare with the federal earnings above.
Related programs
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.