Nuclear Med Tech Salary

Louisville/Jefferson County vs Owensboro: Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare nuclear medicine technologist salaries between Louisville/Jefferson County, KY and Owensboro, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
$110,691
$53.21/hr
Owensboro, KY
$95,790
$46.06/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLouisville/Jefferson County, KYOwensboro, KY
Median Salary$110,691$95,790
Hourly Rate$53.21$46.06
Entry Level (P10)$79,927$73,113
25th Percentile$102,430$80,728
75th Percentile$127,306$108,995
Top Earner (P90)$131,242$123,594
Total Employed9014
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Louisville/Jefferson County ($110,691) and Owensboro ($95,790) nuclear medicine technologist salaries.Louisville/Jefferson CountyOwensboroMedian Salary$110,691$95,790Entry Level (P10)$79,927$73,113Top Earner (P90)$131,242$123,594US Median $106,398

Verdict

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY offers better overall compensation for nuclear medicine technologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Owensboro.

The salary gap between Louisville/Jefferson County and Owensboro is $14,901 (15.56%). Louisville/Jefferson County's median is +4.03% compared to the US national median of $106,398.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Louisville/Jefferson County spans $51,315,Owensboro spans $50,481. Louisville/Jefferson County has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Louisville/Jefferson County
P10 (Entry)$79,927
P25$102,430
Median$110,691
P75$127,306
P90 (Top)$131,242
Owensboro
P10 (Entry)$73,113
P25$80,728
Median$95,790
P75$108,995
P90 (Top)$123,594

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Louisville/Jefferson County ($118,928 effective) pays 10.87% more than Owensboro ($107,268 effective).

Louisville/Jefferson County
Nominal: $110,691
CoL Index: 93.074
Adjusted: $118,928
Owensboro
Nominal: $95,790
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $107,268

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Louisville/Jefferson County if…

  • Higher median salary ($110,691/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($131,242)
  • Larger job market (90 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $118,928)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Owensboro if…

  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nuclear medicine technologist salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County grew 66.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 26.7% growth in Owensboro over the same period.

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY

+66.4%

$63,380 (2019) → $105,460 (2025)

Owensboro, KY

+26.7%

$72,024 (2024) → $91,263 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nuclear medicine technologists more: Louisville/Jefferson County or Owensboro?

Louisville/Jefferson County has a higher median nuclear medicine technologist salary at $110,691/year, compared to Owensboro at $95,790/year — a difference of $14,901 (15.56%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Louisville/Jefferson County and Owensboro?

Louisville/Jefferson County nuclear medicine technologists earn $53.21/hr while Owensboro hygienists earn $46.06/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Louisville/Jefferson County to Owensboro as a nuclear medicine technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Louisville/Jefferson County and Owensboro. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Louisville/Jefferson County = $118,928, Owensboro = $107,268), job availability (90 vs 14 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nuclear medicine technologists earn in Louisville/Jefferson County vs Owensboro?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nuclear medicine technologists earn $79,927 in Louisville/Jefferson County and $73,113 in Owensboro. The Louisville/Jefferson County area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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Written by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in nuclear medicine. She specializes in PET imaging at a community hospital. She analyzes trends in the nuclear medicine job market.

Clinically reviewed by David Martinez, BS, CNMTData verified by Fatima Nasir, MS, CNMT

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.96% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, MS, CNMT, a licensed nuclear medicine technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov