How to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Also called: Nuclear Medicine Scientist
Prepares and administers radionuclides or radiopharmaceuticals to detect, diagnose or treat diseases, using specialised imaging equipment.
Main tasks
- Prepares and administers radiopharmaceuticals or radionuclides to patients for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
- Operates and performs quality control on imaging equipment, including positron emission tomograpy/computed tomography (PET/CT), PET/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), Gamma Cameras, single-photon emission computed tomography/CT (SPECT/CT) cameras and bone density scanners
- Produces and analyses diagnostic images to identify abnormalities or diseases
- Maintains detailed records of patients' procedures
- Adheres to safety standards for the appropriate use, storage and disposal of radioactive materials
- Provides patient education and instructions regarding imaging procedures and preparations, and provides patients with assistance during procedures
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
- University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $122,720 a year
- About 22,900 people work in this job group now, and about 30,500 are projected by 2035. (+33.1%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?
Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees; Allied Health degrees.
How much does a Nuclear Medicine Technologist earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $122,720 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 33% by 2035, from about 22,900 to about 30,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?
Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04