Medical Diagnostic Radiographers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Medical Diagnostic Radiographers operate X-rays and other medical imaging equipment to produce images for medical diagnostic purposes in conjunction with Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologists or other Medical Practitioners.
Specialisations: Magnetic Resonance Technologist.
A bachelor degree in radiography or medical imaging is needed to work as a Medical Diagnostic Radiographer. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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Receives referrals to perform medical imaging of patients.
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Determines appropriate equipment to use such as x-rays and computed tomography (CT) equipment, and selects the appropriate equipment settings to provide the diagnostic information requested by medical practitioners.
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Calculates details of procedures such as settings of recording equipment.
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Explains procedures to patients and answers patients’ queries about processes.
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Ensures patients welfare during procedures.
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Positions patients, screens and equipment preparatory to procedures.
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Views the screen and decides if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and selects images to show medical practitioners.
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Conveys findings of procedures to medical practitioners.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
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Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Medical Imaging Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 71% of people employed as Medical Diagnostic Radiographers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 5 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Medical Diagnostic Radiographers work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Medical Diagnostic Radiographers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 33.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 23.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.0 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.2 | 7.0 |
WA | 9.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 65% of Medical Diagnostic Radiographers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Medical Diagnostic Radiographers is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 67% of the workforce. This is 19 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Medical Diagnostic Radiographers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 11.2 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 34.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 22.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 16.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 36 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A bachelor degree in radiography or medical imaging is needed to work as a Medical Diagnostic Radiographer. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia is required.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Medical Diagnostic Radiographers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 19.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 61.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 17.2 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 1.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.2 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Medical Imaging Professionals who are caring and empathetic and can work well in a team, with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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50%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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48%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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43%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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41%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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39%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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37%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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37%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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32%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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83%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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61%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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59%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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58%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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55%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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54%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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51%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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51%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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49%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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47%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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43%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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41%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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40%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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34%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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33%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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32%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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32%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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32%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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28%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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23%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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50%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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48%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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45%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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45%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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45%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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45%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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41%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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41%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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85%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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81%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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80%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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74%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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74%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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72%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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69%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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67%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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67%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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63%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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61%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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60%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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60%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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59%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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59%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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52%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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52%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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52%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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51%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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43%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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71%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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52%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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43%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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43%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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86%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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81%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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71%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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71%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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48%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
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99%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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97%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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94%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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93%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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93%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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93%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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91%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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89%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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87%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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82%
RadiationBe exposed to radiation.
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81%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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81%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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80%
Wear specialized protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection.
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79%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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79%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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79%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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78%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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77%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-2034.00 - Radiologic Technologists.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.