GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Best States to Be a Nuclear Medicine Technologists
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a nuclear medicine technologists salary goes furthest in California — a $162,380 BLS median worth $136,742 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 136.1).
Which US states are best for a nuclear medicine technologists after cost of living and tax?
For a nuclear medicine technologists, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks California #1: a $162,380 BLS median becomes $136,742 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 136.1). Kansas ranks last ($68,620, index 68.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 49 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
California ranks #1 of 49 states for a nuclear medicine technologists. Index 100 = the average state; 136.1 means pay goes 36.1% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedNuclear Medicine Technologists — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $162,380 | $10,979 | 110.7 | $136,742 | 136.1 |
| 2 | Washington | $126,200 | — | 107.0 | $117,930 | 117.4 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $102,640 | $764 | 89.0 | $114,520 | 114.0 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $104,320 | $4,328 | 90.1 | $110,975 | 110.5 |
| 5 | Nevada | $109,150 | — | 100.0 | $109,173 | 108.7 |
| 6 | Colorado | $116,990 | $4,488 | 103.1 | $109,171 | 108.7 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $124,280 | $5,727 | 108.8 | $108,959 | 108.5 |
| 8 | Oregon | $122,100 | $9,880 | 103.4 | $108,571 | 108.1 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $117,150 | $4,879 | 103.6 | $108,359 | 107.9 |
| 10 | Utah | $111,770 | $5,086 | 98.9 | $107,910 | 107.4 |
| 11 | Indiana | $103,230 | $3,067 | 93.3 | $107,323 | 106.8 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $125,650 | $8,019 | 110.0 | $106,985 | 106.5 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $118,250 | $5,693 | 105.8 | $106,430 | 106.0 |
| 14 | Idaho | $104,630 | $4,838 | 95.5 | $104,500 | 104.0 |
| 15 | New York | $118,650 | $6,071 | 107.9 | $104,316 | 103.9 |
| 16 | Texas | $101,170 | — | 97.1 | $104,238 | 103.8 |
| 17 | Missouri | $98,010 | $3,726 | 90.8 | $103,818 | 103.4 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $107,890 | — | 104.2 | $103,576 | 103.1 |
| 19 | Ohio | $97,570 | $1,901 | 92.8 | $103,121 | 102.7 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $107,380 | $5,813 | 98.6 | $102,987 | 102.5 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $98,400 | $3,545 | 92.2 | $102,867 | 102.4 |
| 22 | Iowa | $92,890 | $3,490 | 87.8 | $101,867 | 101.4 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $95,470 | $3,688 | 90.2 | $101,800 | 101.3 |
| 24 | Montana | $100,490 | $4,791 | 94.6 | $101,114 | 100.7 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $98,450 | $4,066 | 94.1 | $100,308 | 99.9 |
| 26 | Illinois | $104,950 | $5,054 | 100.0 | $99,938 | 99.5 |
| 27 | Georgia | $100,880 | $4,791 | 96.3 | $99,789 | 99.3 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $116,630 | $7,039 | 109.9 | $99,718 | 99.3 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $90,640 | $3,768 | 87.8 | $98,895 | 98.5 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $104,000 | $3,381 | 102.3 | $98,376 | 97.9 |
| 31 | Arizona | $100,130 | $2,028 | 100.7 | $97,442 | 97.0 |
| 32 | Maine | $99,500 | $5,165 | 97.0 | $97,202 | 96.8 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $87,670 | $2,255 | 88.2 | $96,835 | 96.4 |
| 34 | Virginia | $101,820 | $5,055 | 101.1 | $95,708 | 95.3 |
| 35 | Delaware | $100,470 | $5,290 | 99.8 | $95,363 | 94.9 |
| 36 | Michigan | $95,400 | $3,808 | 96.2 | $95,193 | 94.8 |
| 37 | Maryland | $104,150 | $4,614 | 105.0 | $94,833 | 94.4 |
| 38 | Florida | $97,310 | — | 103.4 | $94,098 | 93.7 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $94,570 | $2,903 | 97.6 | $93,948 | 93.5 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $83,670 | $3,055 | 86.9 | $92,728 | 92.3 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $82,010 | — | 88.6 | $92,577 | 92.2 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $83,340 | $2,862 | 87.0 | $92,554 | 92.1 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $90,230 | $3,987 | 93.7 | $91,994 | 91.6 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $84,470 | — | 91.9 | $91,945 | 91.5 |
| 45 | Alabama | $82,630 | $3,867 | 88.8 | $88,675 | 88.3 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $81,900 | — | 92.7 | $88,358 | 88.0 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $85,240 | $3,081 | 94.3 | $87,101 | 86.7 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $76,460 | $2,750 | 89.5 | $82,360 | 82.0 |
| 49 | Kansas | $64,610 | $2,806 | 90.1 | $68,620 | 68.3 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 49 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In California, a $162,380 salary is worth about $127,153 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $21,597 (≈ top marginal 13.30% (upper bound)) · take-home $140,783 · BEA cost of living 110.7 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $183,302, a $56,149 gain over California.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $183,302 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $179,495 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $178,567 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $178,528 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $177,992 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $177,970 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $176,750 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $176,072 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $175,184 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $173,672 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $172,900 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $172,691 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Nuclear Medicine Technologists — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a nuclear medicine technologists?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, California is the best state for a nuclear medicine technologists: a BLS median of $162,380 is worth $136,742 after the 2025 state income tax ($10,979) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.7), an index of 136.1 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a nuclear medicine technologists at $162,380, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 49 on real pay (index 136.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a nuclear medicine technologists salary go least far?
- Kansas ranks last of 49 states for a nuclear medicine technologists: a $64,610 BLS median is worth only $68,620 after tax and cost of living (index 68.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a nuclear medicine technologists is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.