Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary in Bethlehem, PA: $111,033 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nuclear medicine technologist in Bethlehem, PA earns a median $111,033/year (≈ $53.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2033). Once you factor in Bethlehem's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.4), that paycheck buys what $113,997 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.1% above the Pennsylvania state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
For nuclear medicine technologists in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the projected median annual salary in 2026 is $111,033, surpassing the national median of $106,398 by approximately 4.36%. The salary range is notable, extending from $85,360 at the 10th percentile to $144,594 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS state-level data adjusted for regional price differences, reflect the varying demand for expertise in both hospital nuclear medicine departments and outpatient PET/CT imaging centers. Bethlehem’s job market offers a diverse range of opportunities, indicating an evolving landscape for those entering the field.
About the Bethlehem Market
Salary estimated from Pennsylvania average ($96,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $85,360 | $41.04 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $94,374 | $45.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $111,033 | $53.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $127,138 | $61.13 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $144,594 | $69.52 |
Median Salary Position
4.36% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bethlehem
In Bethlehem, PA, the nuclear medicine technologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,234 (2026 est.). At $111,033, the local median is 4.36% above the national median of $106,398.
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At 40 hours/week in Bethlehem: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bethlehem Nuclear Medicine Technologist Pay Compares
Bethlehem median: $111,033/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bethlehem Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $103,672 | +7.10% more |
| National Average | $106,398 | +4.36% more |
Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Bethlehem, PA earn a median of $111,033 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.36% higher than the national median of $106,398 and 7.10% above the Pennsylvania state average of $103,672.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bethlehem has a cost of living 2.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bethlehem, PA has a cost-of-living index of 97.4 (below the national average of 100). A nuclear medicine technologist earning $111,033 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $113,997 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.67% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$81,346
2025 BLS Actual
$105,786
2026 Current Est.
$111,033
2019–2027 Growth
+43.3%
Salary Trajectory for Nuclear Medicine Technologists in Bethlehem (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,346 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,057 | Actual |
| 2021 | $82,191 | Actual |
| 2022 | $89,016 | Actual |
| 2023 | $96,530 | Actual |
| 2024 | $94,824 | Actual |
| 2025 | $105,786 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $111,033 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $116,540 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bethlehem metropolitan area, the median nuclear medicine technologist salary grew 30.0% from $81,346 (2019) to $105,786 (2025). At a 4.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $116,540 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,194 (43.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bethlehem 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) | $85,360 – $94,374 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $94,374 – $111,033 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $111,033 – $127,138 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $127,138 – $144,594 |
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 Bethlehem
With 14 nuclear medicine technologists currently employed in Bethlehem, the job market for this occupation remains relatively small but showing promising growth, anticipated at 4.96% annually. The cost of living index at 97.4 suggests that although salaries are competitively positioned, they must be evaluated against local living expenses, impacting overall take-home pay. Among local employers, hospital facilities, outpatient PET/CT imaging centers, and specialized cardiology practices tend to offer the most competitive compensation, particularly for those skilled in advanced modalities like theranostics. The disparity between low and high salaries can be attributed to factors such as credentialing in PET/CT vs. SPECT-only, on-call responsibilities, and comprehensive CT cross-training. To maximize earnings in Bethlehem's market, technologists should focus on obtaining additional certifications, engaging in continuous education through organizations like the SNMMI-TS, and gaining experience in high-demand areas such as theranostics and mobile PET imaging.
More salary data for Bethlehem, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $105,786 for nuclear medicine technologistsin the Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem 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