Radiologic Technologist Jobs in Louisville, KY
Radiologic technologists in Louisville earn a median of about $36.95 an hour, above the Kentucky median, and Norton Healthcare alone is hiring X-ray and cath lab techs from Norton Audubon in the South End to Norton Brownsboro off I-71. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current radiologic technologist Openings in Louisville, KY
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Radiologic Technologist Work in Louisville
Louisville's hospital systems are hiring radiographers across the city. Norton Healthcare posts registered radiology tech openings on day, night and PRN schedules at Norton Hospital and Norton Children's Hospital in the downtown Medical Center, at Norton Audubon Hospital in the South End and at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in the northeast end, plus invasive cardiac specialist roles for techs who move into the cath lab. UofL Health hires radiologic technologists for its Louisville locations, and the Robley Rex VA Medical Center on Zorn Avenue hires diagnostic radiologic technologists at federal grades.
Hospital imaging departments here run around the clock, so night, weekend and PRN shifts are a regular part of the market, and techs who add a CT, interventional or cardiac credential qualify for the specialty roles these hospitals also post. Clinical training for JCTC's radiography students runs through the same metro hospitals.
Top Louisville Employers Hiring Radiologic Technologists
Louisville radiologic technologists are hired by the hospital systems and the VA:
- Norton Healthcare - the city's largest health system hires registered radiology techs and invasive cardiac specialists across its Louisville hospitals.
- UofL Health - the academic health system hires radiologic technologists with ARRT registration and a year of general radiography experience.
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center - the Zorn Avenue VA hospital hires diagnostic radiologic technologists at GS-5 to GS-8 through USAJOBS.
Radiologic Technologist Salaries in Louisville
- Entry level: about $26 to $30 an hour for newly registered technologists.
- Experienced: roughly $32 to $40 an hour, the range around the metro median.
- Senior: about $42 to $50 an hour for lead techs and those with CT, cath lab or interventional credentials.
These are estimates built from federal wage data for the Louisville metro, where the top tenth of radiologic technologists earn about $49.82 an hour. The Robley Rex VA advertised its 2026 diagnostic radiologic technologist jobs at $57,453 to $102,456 a year depending on grade. Advanced modality credentials, night and weekend shifts, call requirements and years of experience move pay the most.
How to Become a Radiologic Technologist in Louisville
Kentucky licenses radiographers through the Kentucky Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy. To be licensed you complete an accredited radiography program, pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam and keep your ARRT registration active, and submit an application with a criminal background check. New graduates who have not yet tested can apply for a temporary license that lasts up to one year and cannot be renewed. Locally, Jefferson Community and Technical College offers a 21-month AAS in Radiography with clinical rotations at Louisville metro hospitals; it admits one class each fall, requires the HESI A2 exam, and reports a five-year ARRT pass rate of 92 percent.
What the Job Involves
Radiologic technologists produce X-ray images that physicians use to diagnose injury and disease. A shift includes checking orders, positioning patients, setting exposure and shielding to keep radiation doses low, running fixed and portable equipment in the emergency department, operating rooms and patient floors, checking image quality, and keeping records in the imaging system. Techs in the cath lab or interventional suite also assist physicians during procedures.
Skills Employers Look For
- ARRT (R) registration and a Kentucky radiographer license
- Current BLS CPR certification
- Accurate patient positioning and radiation safety practice
- Portable and operating-room imaging experience
- Comfort with PACS and electronic records
- Calm communication with patients in pain or distress
Career Path and Advancement
The usual path starts in general radiography and then cross-trains into CT, MRI, mammography or interventional radiology, each with its own ARRT credential. At Norton the ladder includes invasive cardiac specialist roles, which require a cardiac credential within 24 months of hire, and lead and coordinator jobs at its hospitals and immediate care centers. Experienced techs can also move into imaging management, education or applications training.
Related Careers in Louisville
If radiologic technology interests you, these related Louisville roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a radiologic technologist in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky radiographers are licensed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, which requires graduation from an accredited program and an active ARRT or NMTCB credential. Louisville hospital postings ask for both the state license and ARRT registration.
How much do radiologic technologists make in Louisville?
Federal wage data puts the Louisville metro median at about $36.95 an hour, or roughly $76,860 a year, with the top tenth near $49.82 an hour. Techs with advanced modality credentials tend to earn toward the top of that range.
How long does radiography school take in Louisville?
JCTC's AAS in Radiography takes 21 months as a full-time student, after you finish the general education and prerequisite courses. The program starts one class each fall, with application steps due in May.
Can I work as a rad tech in Louisville before passing the ARRT exam?
Kentucky can issue a temporary license to graduates who have finished an approved program but not yet taken the exam; it lasts up to one year. Norton accepts a temporary license as long as you earn ARRT (R) before it expires.
Which Louisville radiology jobs pay the most?
Cath lab, interventional and CT roles generally pay more than general X-ray, and night and call shifts add to base pay. At the VA, pay rises with grade, from GS-5 for new technologists to GS-8 at full performance.
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