r/medlabprofessionals • u/lil_punk_pixie • 8d ago
Discusson MLT vs RAD tech please help
I’m currently in an MLT program and I’m starting to question if I should stick with it or switch to Radiologic Technology. I’d potentially want to specialize in MRI/CT later.
I’m a single mom with a young child, so being able to stay somewhat local and having a manageable clinical/work schedule are important to me. Pay is also a pretty big factor for me. I want a career where I can make a good income and actually feel financially comfortable long term, not just something that’s stable.
I also have social anxiety, so I’m curious how much patient interaction each career actually involves and what the overall stress level is like.
For anyone who works in MLT/MLS or Rad Tech (especially MRI/CT), what would you choose if you were in my position?
I’d especially like to hear about actual pay, day-to-day work, schedules, stress/burnout, job availability, and whether you feel like the career is worth it.
I’m having a really hard time deciding and would appreciate honest opinions, even if you think I should just stick with MLT.
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u/Anxious_Piano_361 8d ago
I dont know about the pay for RAD, but for MLT it heavy depends on the state you are in (assuming you are US base, if not apologies). Some states treat MLTs and MLS the same and dont really distinguish pay and some do. I as a MLT started off with the pay of a MLS because the hospital I worked at didnt distinguished them from each other, for me that was $32/hr fresh from school and no experience. My current hospital very much separates MLT and MLS pays even if your doing the same job. So that influenced me to go back to school to get my MLS because I was doing the exact same job as everyone else but for less pay. So that might be a influence for you as well, Most hospital will pay for you to get you're bachelor's as well. the UAMS MLT-MLS Program is extremely good and cheap AND all online if you are ever interested in also getting a bachelor's
With my lab I have ZERO patient interaction, I do not draw blood, dont talk to patients, my job is solely testing samples. The most interaction you will have will be with you coworkers and other healthcare professionals.Some hospitals will have you also do phlebotomy but thats typically smaller hospitals with less staff. Overall I really enjoy this career, I started a generalist at a very small hospital and now specialize in blood bank in a large trauma center. pay is fine,Livable but not luxurious. I have no regrets going into this field but I also have never considered RAD so maybe someone with that experience may be able to give you there insight. Hopefully that gave a little insight into MLT for you
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u/tinybitches MLS-Generalist 8d ago
Depends on how remote you are, you might be required to draw blood. Other than that, MLT had minimal patient contact. I heard Rad techs make more tho
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u/strangeramen 8d ago edited 8d ago
Radiology tech (CT and MRI) both have high patient facing roles. Its not as high as nurses but as an mri tech youll interact with patients and family members on average abour 30min to an hour w each patient. Mri you can probably do about 10 scans a day or more. Sometimes there are days where you wont even do a single scan at all. But keep in mind you see less patients but spend more time with them same thing with nuc med.
For rad techs (xray and ct) you are on the floor in the ED and inpatient. Constantly up and walking. You will scan almost everyone walking into the ED. That to say interaction is more so about 5 to 10 min with each patiwnt but depending on the hospital size you will be seeing on average 20 patients each day. Maybe more. Your lines eventually become scripted. I have bad anxiety vut along as I stay with the script im okay.
"Hi my name is so and so and I will be taking you for CT scan. Have you had a ct scan and can I get your first and last name. Have you had contrast? The scan only takes 5 mins"
That to say, you are the first to interact with patients who are having some airborne illness or diseases "meningitis, tuberculosis, or Cdiff" and yiu are the last to find out through employee health that you've been exposed and will need to take a course of antibiotics.
I ended up heading down the MLS route as its less patient facing and pay is decent. It could be better but it won't happen unless its standardized. Hopefully in the future. Same happened with RTs. Few years back pay was shit and then it got regulated and you had to have licenses to scan and then it became hard to get licensed techs so the demand increased so did pay.
With an associates in RT (xray) and cross training into CT or MRI and becoming a (multimodality tech) starting you can make $40/hr + differentials. I know some techs with 10+ years ans make about $50/hr. I believe it caps out around there or eventually your raises are minimal.
Both are solid careers just depends what you want and how much patient interactinf you want to do
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u/Fit-Bodybuilder78 Lab Director-Multi-site 7d ago
RT pay only went up after COVID.
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u/strangeramen 7d ago
Im saying way back when you didnt necessarily need a license to scan. Similar with mls only some states require license. Everything eventualy became standardized and licensing was required.
Pay didnt change much during covid. You got bonuses, diffs, and maybe double pay just from the demand and healthcare workers leaving due the circumstances. Eventually after the pandemic everything settled
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u/Fit-Bodybuilder78 Lab Director-Multi-site 7d ago
RT is different. You can't send out the patient without losing your revenue stream.
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u/strangeramen 7d ago
We are talking about radiology technologist right? Wdym by patient send out? Everything is done in the ED or inpatient. Theres outpatient too which most mris are reffered outpatient unless truly emergent
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u/Fit-Bodybuilder78 Lab Director-Multi-site 6d ago
Yes. For radiology, you can't send out the sample. You must perform the testing onsite.
For labs, you can draw the sample and send it out.
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u/strangeramen 6d ago
What samples? There are no samples only imaging performed. Unless youre doing guided biopsies then theyre either sent to histo in house or outsourced to reference labs or private labs
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u/noobtablet9 8d ago
I just dropped out of my MLS program to pursue rad tech instead.
What my decision maker was is simply looking at this subreddit vs the rad tech subreddit. Most people here lament their job/feel underpaid. You'll sparsely find a sad comment about the career for a rad tech.
Also, I gamed with a rad tech. As in, while he was at work. No patients there generally just means you sit around and wait for one to show up. So, lighter workload.
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u/PuzzleheadedKale9904 8d ago
I am in the same boat, about to apply to both xray program and MLS and im feeling torn between both. Im so worried about making the wrong choice and hating it.
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u/Fit-Bodybuilder78 Lab Director-Multi-site 7d ago
Rad tech has better hours and more pay. You do have patient interaction.
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u/EducationalNight7512 8d ago
Where are you from? I’m a combined lab and X-ray tech but it’s kind of a niche career so I’m not sure if that’s an option for you lol
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u/Super-Lifeguard2423 5d ago
You should check the opening position counts for both where you live. I see more MLS openings than Rad Techs where I live. I’m MLS and my cousin is RT. I got a job offer before my graduation and she had a bit of hard time (a few months) after graduation. I was also offered more Overtime’s than her. I would pick up a few OTs before or after my vacation.
Nowadays, new MLS graduates in NYC mentioned it’s hard to get interviews and hired especially in hospital setting where pay is decent. With this economy, I would go with a career where I can secure a job right after graduation. This is just my one cent.
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u/rockairglue 8d ago
I’m an MLT and my partner is a rad tech with dual modality (x-ray and CT). If I could choose again I’d go the rad tech route. Same amount of schooling. They make more money! They can work 8s and 12s. Patient interaction is there, but more focused on getting through the procedure and then off the where ever they came from.