Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Charlotte, NC: $97,224 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Charlotte, NC earns a median $97,224/year (≈ $46.75/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Charlotte's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $99,873 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Charlotte, North Carolina, the earning potential for nuclear medicine technologists is attractive, with a median annual salary projected at $97,224 for 2026. This figure positions the local pay below the national median of $106,398, reflecting a difference of 8.62%. The salary range for this profession in Charlotte spans from $70,691 at the 10th percentile to $115,508 at the 90th percentile, based on official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS data. The job market in Charlotte provides a mix of employment opportunities between hospital settings and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, each affecting salary structure due to varying operational demands and service offerings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,691 | $33.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,081 | $40.90 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $97,224 | $46.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $105,684 | $50.81 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $115,508 | $55.53 |
Median Salary Position
8.62% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlotte
In Charlotte, NC, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,817 (2026 est.). At $97,224, the local median is 8.62% below the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlotte: You'd be above the median
How Charlotte Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Charlotte median: $97,224/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlotte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $106,398 | -8.62% less |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Charlotte, NC earn a median of $97,224 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.62% lower than the national median of $106,398.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlotte has a cost of living 2.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlotte, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.348 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $97,224 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $99,873 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,880
2025 BLS Actual
$92,630
2026 Current Est.
$97,224
2019–2027 Growth
+44.0%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Charlotte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,880 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,640 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,730 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,850 | Actual |
| 2023 | $85,310 | Actual |
| 2024 | $91,840 | Actual |
| 2025 | $92,630 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $97,224 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,047 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlotte metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.7% from $70,880 (2019) to $92,630 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $102,047 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,167 (43.97%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlotte metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $70,691 – $85,081 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,081 – $97,224 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $97,224 – $105,684 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $105,684 – $115,508 |
NMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nuclear medicine technologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Market in Charlotte
Local job conditions indicate that around 130 nuclear medicine technologists are currently employed in the Charlotte area, contributing to a stable job market. With a cost-of-living index of 97.348, the financial landscape favors purchasing power, although it is slightly below the national average. Among employers, those in hospital nuclear medicine departments and theranostics centers, especially those offering therapies like lutetium-177, tend to provide higher pay. The significant disparity in earnings can be attributed to the credential mix and experience levels, especially for those proficient in PET/CT imaging versus SPECT-only practices. Technologists can maximize their pay in Charlotte by seeking cross-training opportunities, acquiring certification in advanced procedures, and being open to on-call roles, as these factors often lead to enhanced compensation in a competitive market.
More salary data for Charlotte, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Charlotte?
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $92,630 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Charlotte metropolitan area. A 4.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nuclear medicine technologists (SOC 29-2033).
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