Travel Mammography Tech Jobs

The salary of a Mammography Technologist can vary by the specific title as well as the location, facility, and assignment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for Radiologic Technologists and Technicians was $64,840 in 2020 with the majority earning between $50,670 and $76,520. Entry Level positions or those paying the lowest 10% of salaries earned around $42,180 while the highest 10% earned more than $92,660. Typically, travel mammography tech jobs will provide higher hourly and weekly pay than permanent positions in the same location, though this varies widely by travel mammography technologist jobs.

California pays the highest average salary to Radiologic Technologists and Technicians - which includes Mammography Technologist positions - according to the BLS with an average annual wage of $95,010 and an hourly wage of $45.68. California is followed by Hawaii ($82,990 per year, $39.90 per hour), the District of Columbia ($82,270 per year, $39.55 per hour), Alaska ($79,330 per year, $38.14 per hour), and Massachusetts ($78,830 per year, $37.90 per hour).

Seeking the highest-paying contract doesn't always mean that you should take travel mammography technologist jobs with the highest weekly pay. Factoring in the cost of living of each state can often give a better indication of what mammography tech travelers can expect to earn from an assignment. When comparing the cost of living adjusted average mammography tech salary, Minnesota would be the highest paying state followed by Washington State, California, Ohio, and Idaho.

Mammography Technologists (Mammo Techs) use dedicated X-ray equipment for breast imaging. This specialized equipment uses low-dose radiation to produce digital electronic images that can be enhanced by computer technology to detect cancers, benign tumors, and cysts. Mammography is also used to assist in further evaluation of breast abnormalities during needle localization and stereotactic breast biopsies. Breast implant imaging is also done by mammography. Mammo techs often prepare patients for the scans and make sure they are comfortable during imaging.

Education

Mammography techs must pursue the same associate's degree from a program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JCERT), as that is the fastest path into the profession. Associates degree programs will understand biology, physiology, anatomy, patient care, and clinical skills through work in the classroom and clinical settings. Mammography techs can also pursue a Bachelor's degree in radiologic science which provides more in-depth instruction and will often lead to greater opportunities to pursue a higher salary and leadership opportunities.

Certifications and License

Mammography techs will generally be required to take a national certifying exam, the most common of which is administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. A mammography technologist would need to earn their ARRT (R) certification after graduation and it is strongly recommended to complete the ARRT (M) exam which is the certification sought after by most companies for travel mammography technologist jobs. State licensure requirements for mammography techs vary by state and they are separate from certification.

While compensation offers can vary greatly depending on the contract or agency offering, pay packages for travel radiologist jobs typically have four major components: hourly taxable wages, meals and incidentals, housing, and travel.

Hourly Pay

Full-time mammography techs working at healthcare facilities receive a salary, but most travel allied health employers offer hourly wages. Every pay package must include a taxable hourly wage, and the amount can vary depending on the shift, location, and specialty required of the assignment.

Housing

Housing payments can be included in a payment from a staffing agency. This is typically offered in two ways. Either the company is providing housing, or the traveler is taking the housing stipend. It is more beneficial for the traveler to take the housing stipend for two primary reasons. First, they will have a choice in where they stay. Everyone’s definition of comfortable and acceptable are different. The second reason the housing stipend is more beneficial for them is that it can be given as a nontaxable amount.

Meals and Incidentals

Also known as per diems, meal and incidental stipends provide a daily budget for daily living expenses. These standards vary depending on the cost of living in cities and states across the country.

Travel Expenses

Travel is the last portion of the pay package. Many recruiters may not even offer travel and instead put that money into the per diems or housing for their traveler so they are receiving the benefits over the entire contract, not just at the very beginning or end of the contract. While a travel stipend can be used to cover the cost of a flight for the traveler, it is more often than not used to subsidize the traveler’s expenses to and from an assignment. Travel expenses can be offered as a reimbursement rate per mile, though many agencies will opt to offer a flat rate to and from an assignment.

Many mammography techs find work through allied health agencies and marketplaces, which means you have better access to job boards to choose your schedule, location, and salary. When you begin browsing for jobs, be sure to consider housing options, benefits, guaranteed hours' policy, and the recruiting company’s overall reputation.

The good news is that Fusion Marketplace has everything you need when it comes to finding the perfect mammography techs. Here, you have the freedom to compare perks and benefits offered by staffing agencies in one place - including pay packages, 401k plans, medical, and dental insurance. So create a profile and find your next job today.