Advantages & Disadvantages of Being an X-Ray Technician

         Working as an X-ray technician can be rewarding and demanding . Careers in health care afford the opportunity to help others and ease their pain. The job market favors X-ray technicians and will continue to do so for years, and these technicians make a respectable salary. The biggest drawback, though, is the commitment it takes to be a health care professional.
Salary and Benefits
The average salary of an X-ray technician is a major advantage. According to Salary.com, as of January 2010, national average salary for X-ray technicians ranged from $43,840 to $52,341 annually. Most technicians report having life, health and dental insurance and receiving overtime pay.
Job Security
Job security is a distinct advantage for X-ray technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for X-ray techs are expected to expand 15 percent by 2016. This is higher than the average growth rate among other industries, partially because health care is generally an expanding industry.
Flexible Education
The requirements for becoming an X-ray technician pose another advantage. While some may pursue a four-year bachelor's degree, this is generally the route taken by people interested in career advancement and administrative or managerial work in the field. Most people opt for a two-year associate's degree followed by certification.
Disadvantages
Work in the field of health care, however,also has some disadvantages. Most X-ray technicians report working overtime, meaning more than the standard 40 hours per week. X-ray techs need to have a strong work ethic, meaning they could be paged and called in to work while off-duty. While this comes with commensurate pay, it could nonetheless be considered a disadvantage to working in this profession. Another potential disadvantage is the need to continue the education---certified X-ray techs with associate's degrees must obtain 24 continued education credits every two years to maintain certification.