Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Nuclear Medicine Technologists perform or assist in performing diagnostic examinations using radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, and administer radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic purposes under the direction of Specialist Medical Practitioners.
Tasks
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Receives referrals to perform medical imaging and radiation treatment.
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Determines equipment and selects settings to provide the information requested by medical practitioners.
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Calculates details of procedures such as length and intensity of exposure to radiation, size and strength of dosage of isotopes and settings of recording equipment.
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Explains procedures to patients and answers queries about processes.
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Ensures patient's welfare during procedures.
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Positions patients, screens and equipment preparatory to procedures.
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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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Analytical
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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 76% of people employed as Nuclear Medicine Technologists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 10 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 Nuclear Medicine Technologists 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 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 36.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 29.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 16.9 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.4 | 7.0 |
WA | 6.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 71% of Nuclear Medicine Technologists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
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 Nuclear Medicine Technologists is 34 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 68% of the workforce. This is 20 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 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 10.8 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 42.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.7 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 10.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 34 | 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 nuclear medicine is needed to work as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia is required.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 13.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 80.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 5.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 1.2 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 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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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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54%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
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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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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50%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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50%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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48%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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46%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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46%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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45%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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45%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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43%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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41%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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39%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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79%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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61%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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60%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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59%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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58%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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55%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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55%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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54%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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52%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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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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50%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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46%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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37%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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33%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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32%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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29%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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26%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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26%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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22%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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22%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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59%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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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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50%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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43%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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43%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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43%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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41%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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74%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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71%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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66%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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65%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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65%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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65%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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61%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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61%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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61%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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60%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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59%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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59%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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57%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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56%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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56%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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55%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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54%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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47%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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46%
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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90%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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86%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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57%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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24%
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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90%
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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76%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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76%
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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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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62%
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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100%
RadiationBe exposed to radiation.
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97%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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96%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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94%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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93%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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93%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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89%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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89%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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88%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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88%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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87%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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87%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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86%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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85%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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82%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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81%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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79%
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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78%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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77%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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, 29-2033.00 - Nuclear Medicine 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.