Will AI replace radiographers?
Updated
Radiologic technologists score 29 of 100 for AI exposure. 54% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 10% today and speed up another 36%.
- 10% AI can do it
- 36% AI helps
- 54% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 64% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 30 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 3 of them today, speeds up 11 and leaves 16 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record, process, and maintain patient data or treatment records and prepare reports. Record keeping and report drafting are routine documentation work. | 70% AI can do it |
| Process exposed radiographs using film processors or computer generated methods. Digital processing is largely software driven with light review. | 65% AI can do it |
| Maintain a current file of examination protocols. Maintaining and updating protocol documents is organized text work. | 62% AI can do it |
| Key commands and data into computer to document and specify scan sequences, adjust transmitters and receivers, or photograph certain images. Protocol-driven data entry for scan settings can be largely automated. | 55% AI helps |
| Perform general administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, or pulling and filing films. Scheduling and phone handling can be automated, filing is physical. | 55% AI helps |
| Determine patients' x-ray needs by reading requests or instructions from physicians. AI can parse physician orders and suggest protocols for review. | 50% AI helps |
| Operate digital picture archiving communications systems. PACS software tasks like indexing and routing can be automated. | 50% AI helps |
| Perform supervisory duties, such as developing departmental operating budget, coordinating purchases of supplies or equipment, or preparing work schedules. AI can draft budgets and schedules, manager approves and decides. | 45% AI helps |
| Review and evaluate developed x-rays, video tape, or computer-generated information to determine if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes. AI can flag image quality issues, technologist confirms diagnostic adequacy. | 40% AI helps |
| Complete quality control activities, monitor equipment operation, and report malfunctioning equipment to supervisor. Log monitoring can be automated, hands-on QC phantom testing stays manual. | 35% AI helps |
Show the other 20 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Assign duties to radiologic staff to maintain patient flows and achieve production goals. Scheduling tools can suggest staffing, final decisions need a supervisor. | 35% AI helps |
| Take thorough and accurate patient medical histories. Intake forms can be pre-filled, but live interview stays with the person. | 30% AI helps |
| Assist with on-the-job training of new employees or students or provide input to supervisors regarding training performance. AI can draft training materials, but mentoring stays with the person. | 30% AI helps |
| Provide students or other technicians and technologists with suggestions of additional views, alternate positioning, or improved techniques to ensure the images produced are of the highest quality. Expert in-person coaching on positioning, AI offers reference support only. | 25% AI helps |
| Coordinate work with clerical personnel or other technologists and technicians. Interpersonal coordination with staff is mostly human communication. | 20% Needs a person |
| Position imaging equipment and adjust controls to set exposure time and distance, according to specification of examination. Physical equipment positioning needs hands on the machine and patient. | 12% Needs a person |
| Make exposures necessary for the requested procedures, rejecting and repeating work that does not meet established standards. Hands-on exposures with on-the-spot judgement to repeat poor images. | 12% Needs a person |
| Perform procedures, such as linear tomography, mammography, sonograms, joint and cyst aspirations, routine contrast studies, routine fluoroscopy, or examinations of the head, trunk, or extremities under supervision of physician. Hands-on procedures like aspirations and sonograms need physical skill. | 12% Needs a person |
| Explain procedures and observe patients to ensure safety and comfort during scan. In-room patient observation and reassurance during scans. | 10% Needs a person |
| Use radiation safety measures and protection devices to comply with government regulations and to ensure safety of patients and staff. Physical radiation shielding and protective device use on site. | 10% Needs a person |
| Prepare contrast material, radiopharmaceuticals, or anesthetic or antispasmodic drugs under the direction of a radiologist. Hands-on sterile preparation of contrast and drugs under supervision. | 10% Needs a person |
| Operate or oversee operation of radiologic or magnetic imaging equipment to produce images of the body for diagnostic purposes. Physical operation of imaging scanners requires a trained person present. | 10% Needs a person |
| Set up examination rooms, ensuring that all necessary equipment is ready. Physically preparing rooms and checking equipment on site. | 10% Needs a person |
| Monitor patients' conditions and reactions, reporting abnormal signs to physician. Live bedside monitoring of patient condition needs a person present. | 8% Needs a person |
| Provide assistance to physicians or other technologists in the performance of more complex procedures. In-room hands-on assistance during complex procedures with physicians. | 8% Needs a person |
| Position patient on examining table and set up and adjust equipment to obtain optimum view of specific body area as requested by physician. Physically positioning patients and equipment for each view. | 5% Needs a person |
| Operate mobile x-ray equipment in operating room, emergency room, or at patient's bedside. Bedside mobile imaging requires physical handling of equipment and patients. | 5% Needs a person |
| Operate fluoroscope to aid physician to view and guide wire or catheter through blood vessels to area of interest. Live fluoroscopic guidance of catheters through vessels is hands-on. | 5% Needs a person |
| Transport patients to or from exam rooms. Physically moving patients between rooms requires a person. | 4% Needs a person |
| Provide assistance in dressing or changing seriously ill or injured patients or patients with disabilities. Physical hands-on dressing and changing of patients is required. | 3% Needs a person |
How radiologic technologists compare
All occupations (923)
Healthcare practitioners and technical (89)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $80,110 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 230,490 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +5.0% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Hold ARRT certification in radiography or CT
- Position patients precisely for each requested view
- Operate mobile x-ray equipment at patient bedsides
- Review AI-drafted scan protocols in MEDITECH or eClinicalWorks
- Track dose and turnaround metrics in Microsoft Excel
- Assist fluoroscopy-guided catheter procedures with physicians
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about radiologic technologists and AI
Will radiographers be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 3 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly record keeping and digital radiograph processing. Patient positioning, bedside imaging and live monitoring stay with people because they need a person physically present.
Will AI take over radiography?
AI can already do 10% of the task time in radiography and speeds up another 36%. People still do 54% of it. The US has 230,490 radiologic technologist jobs, with a projected change of +5.0% from 2024 to 2034.
Which tasks is AI taking over for radiologic technologists?
Record keeping and report drafting carry the highest exposure score at 70, since they are routine documentation that software can write from structured data. Digital radiograph processing scores 65 because software handles it with light review. Maintaining the examination protocol file scores 62 because it is organized text work.
Which radiologic technologist tasks stay human?
Tasks that stay human make up 54% of task weight. Patient transport scores 4 and dressing seriously ill patients scores 3 because each needs hands on a person. Positioning patients for each view scores 5, and patient condition monitoring scores 8 because live observation needs someone present.
How can radiologic technologists stay valuable as AI spreads?
Hold the ARRT certification and keep positioning skills sharp, since hands-on imaging is the least exposed work. Check AI-drafted scan protocols against physician orders in MEDITECH or eClinicalWorks. Track dose and turnaround figures in Microsoft Excel so you can show what the work saves.
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