Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Forest Grove, OR: $106,581 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Forest Grove, OR earns a median $106,581/year (≈ $51.24/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Forest Grove's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 102.6), that paycheck buys what $103,880 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% below the Oregon state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $106,581 in 2026, nuclear medicine technologists in Forest Grove, Oregon, enjoy a competitive compensation landscape relative to the national figure of $106,398. The salary range is quite broad, spanning from $81,785 at the 10th percentile to $134,715 at the 90th percentile. These estimates, derived from state-level data and adjusted for regional cost factors, suggest that professionals with credentials in both PET/CT and SPECT may command higher wages, reflecting the demand for advanced imaging techniques. Given that four nuclear medicine technologists are currently employed in Forest Grove, the job market appears stable, offering opportunities for those with the right qualifications.
About the Forest Grove Market
Salary estimated from Oregon average ($118,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,785 | $39.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $89,663 | $43.11 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $106,581 | $51.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $120,246 | $57.81 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $134,715 | $64.77 |
Median Salary Position
0.17% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Forest Grove
In Forest Grove, OR, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $52,930 (2026 est.). At $106,581, the local median is 0.17% above the national median of $106,398.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Forest Grove: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Forest Grove Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Forest Grove median: $106,581/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Forest Grove Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Average | $109,201 | -2.40% less |
| National Average | $106,398 | +0.17% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Forest Grove, OR earn a median of $106,581 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.17% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 2.40% below the Oregon state average of $109,201.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Forest Grove has a cost of living 2.60% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Forest Grove, OR has a cost-of-living index of 102.6 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $106,581 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $103,880 — a 2.53% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,084
2025 BLS Actual
$101,544
2026 Current Est.
$106,581
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Forest Grove (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,084 | Actual |
| 2020 | $79,727 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,895 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,446 | Actual |
| 2023 | $92,659 | Actual |
| 2024 | $118,202 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,544 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $106,581 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $111,867 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Forest Grove metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $78,084 (2019) to $101,544 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $111,867 by 2027 — a total increase of $33,783 (43.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Forest Grove 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) | $81,785 – $89,663 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $89,663 – $106,581 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $106,581 – $120,246 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $120,246 – $134,715 |
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 Forest Grove
The local job market for nuclear medicine technologists reveals a nuanced pay structure, influenced by factors such as the cost of living index, which stands at 102.6, indicating higher-than-average living costs. This reality can impact take-home pay and disposable income. The highest-paying positions are typically found in hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, with employers in these settings valuing cross-training in CT and experience in theranostics, particularly with therapies like lutetium-177. The considerable spread between low and high salaries in Forest Grove often results from the differences in credentialing, especially between technicians specializing in PET/CT versus SPECT-only roles. Professionals aiming to maximize their nuclear medicine technologist salary in Forest Grove should consider pursuing additional certifications, expanding their expertise across multiple modalities, and staying engaged with advances in the field to enhance their employability and earning potential.
More salary data for Forest Grove, OR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can nuclear medicine technologists make $100K in Forest Grove?
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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 $101,544 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Forest Grove 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
Salary data for Forest Grove is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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