Radiologic Technologist Jobs in Portland, OR
Radiologic technologists in Portland start near $40 an hour at OHSU and Legacy, and the top of hospital scales reaches about $57 before differentials. Every one needs an Oregon Board of Medical Imaging license. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current radiologic technologist Openings in Portland, OR
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Radiologic Technologist Work in Portland
Portland's x-ray and imaging jobs cluster around its hospital campuses. OHSU's Diagnostic Imaging department staffs the hospital on Marquam Hill and its clinics, Legacy runs radiology at Good Samaritan on NW 22nd Ave and an outpatient imaging center at Cedar Hills in Beaverton, and Kaiser Permanente staffs imaging at Sunnyside Medical Center off SE Sunnyside Rd in Clackamas. Hospital work means evening, night and weekend coverage for the emergency department, surgery and inpatient units, while outpatient centers keep closer to weekday hours.
Oregon keeps close control over who may take an x-ray. The Oregon Board of Medical Imaging licenses technologists, and Portland hospitals hire new graduates on a temporary license as long as they pass the ARRT exam within months of starting. With health care one of the few sectors still adding jobs in the metro, imaging departments keep posting both full-time and relief shifts.
Top Portland Employers Hiring Radiologic Technologists
These Portland employers list radiologic technologist and imaging roles on their own career sites:
- OHSU - hires hospital and clinic radiologic technologists in Diagnostic Imaging, AFSCME represented, and takes student hires on a temporary license.
- Legacy Health - staffs rad techs at Good Samaritan Medical Center and Legacy Imaging Services at Cedar Hills in Beaverton.
- Kaiser Permanente - posts imaging and radiology roles, including CT technologists, at Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas.
Radiologic Technologist Salaries in Portland
- Entry level: about $39 to $42 per hour for newly registered technologists.
- Experienced: roughly $43 to $50 per hour with several years on hospital shifts.
- Senior / top of scale: $50 to $57 per hour, more with CT, MRI or other added credentials.
These are estimates drawn from the ranges OHSU and Legacy post for Portland rad tech jobs. Shift matters: Legacy adds $2.50 an hour for evenings, $4.30 for nights and $3.00 for weekends. Union scales at OHSU set the steps, and cross-training in CT, mammography or bone densitometry opens higher-paid roles.
How to Become a Radiologic Technologist in Portland
You need to graduate from an accredited radiography program, pass the ARRT radiography exam to earn RT(R), and hold a license from the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging. Portland Community College's Radiography associate degree at the Sylvania campus in SW Portland is the main local program. OHSU and Legacy both hire graduates on a temporary Oregon license, and OHSU gives student hires 6 months to pass the ARRT exam. Oregon also issues a separate, narrower Limited X-ray Machine Operator permit, which is not the full technologist license.
What the Job Involves
Radiologic technologists position patients and equipment, set exposure, and take diagnostic x-rays of chests, bones and abdomens for radiologists to read. They check orders and patient identity, explain the exam, shield patients and themselves from radiation, and run portable x-ray machines in the emergency department, operating rooms and patient rooms. Technologists also review image quality, send studies to the reading system and keep equipment and logs in order.
Skills Employers Look For
- ARRT RT(R) registration
- Oregon Board of Medical Imaging license
- BLS certification
- Patient positioning and radiation safety
- Portable and trauma imaging experience
- Calm communication with anxious or injured patients
Career Path and Advancement
Most Portland rad techs start in general diagnostic x-ray at a hospital or outpatient center, then cross-train into CT, MRI, mammography, interventional radiology or the cardiac cath lab. From there the path runs to lead technologist, imaging supervisor and department manager at OHSU, Legacy or Kaiser. Some technologists move into PACS and imaging informatics, or teach in a radiography program.
Related Careers in Portland
If imaging work interests you, these related Portland roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a radiologic technologist in Portland?
Yes. Oregon requires radiologic technologists to be licensed by the Oregon Board of Medical Imaging, and Portland hospitals also expect ARRT registration. New graduates can start on a temporary license while they finish the ARRT exam.
How much do rad techs make in Portland?
OHSU and Legacy post ranges of about $39 to $57 an hour for radiologic technologists. Night and weekend differentials add more, and techs with CT or MRI credentials can move into higher-paid roles.
How long does it take to become a rad tech?
The route runs through an accredited radiography program, such as PCC's Radiography associate degree at Sylvania, then the ARRT exam and your Oregon license. Hospitals such as OHSU let new graduates start on a temporary license and finish the ARRT exam within 6 months of hire.
What is a Limited X-ray Machine Operator in Oregon?
It is a narrower Oregon permit for limited x-ray work, separate from the radiologic technologist license. Hospital rad tech jobs at OHSU and Legacy ask for the full Oregon Board of Medical Imaging license plus ARRT registration.
Do Portland hospitals hire new graduates?
Yes. OHSU hires student graduates on a temporary Oregon Board of Medical Imaging license and gives them 6 months to earn ARRT RT(R). Many hospital openings are evening, night or weekend shifts, since hospitals need imaging around the clock.
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