Other health professionals

How to become a medical radiographer

Official title: Medical radiographers

Also called: Radiographer, Ct radiographer, Mri radiographer, Medical photographer, Medical radiographer, Therapy radiographer, Diagnostic radiographer, Therapeutic radiographer, Superintendent radiographer, Advanced practitioner radiographer, X-ray operator, Clinical photographer

Medical (diagnostic) radiographers operate x-ray machines, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and other imaging devices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, assist in the diagnosis of injuries and diseases and are involved in intervention procedures such as the removal of kidney stones. They operate under the supervision of senior staff. Therapeutic radiographers specialise in the planning and administration of radiotherapy treatment for patients with cancer.

Main tasks

Uses a range of imaging devices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
Assesses patients and interprets clinical requirements to determine appropriate radiographic treatments
Verifies identity of patient and ensures that necessary preparations have been made for the examination/treatment
Decides length and intensity of exposure or strength of dosage of isotope
Positions patient and operates x-ray, scanning or fluoroscopic equipment
Maintains records of all radiographic/therapeutic work undertaken
Plans course of treatment with clinical oncologists and physicists
Calculates radiation dosage and maps volume to be treated

How to become one

Entrants for medical radiography possess a degree in radiography recognised by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Those with a relevant first degree may qualify by completing a pre-registration postgraduate diploma or a Masters qualification. Post-qualifying courses are available for specialist areas.

Ways in

Apprenticeship (England): Diagnostic radiographer (level 6). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0619.
Apprenticeship (England): Sonographer (integrated degree) (level 6). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0554.
Apprenticeship (England): Therapeutic radiographer (level 6). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0620.
University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 17 universities in the UK
University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 21 universities in the UK

Pay · Outlook

Median full-time pay: £48,439 a year The middle half earn £39,854 to £54,805.
About 43,800 people work in this job now, and about 48,000 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)

Questions people ask

How do I become a medical radiographer?

How much does a medical radiographer earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £48,439 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £39,854 to £54,805.

Is a medical radiographer a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 43,800 to about 48,000 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a medical radiographer?

Usually. 92% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.