How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in District of Columbia in 2026?

A typical Rad Tech in the District of Columbia earns about $49.41 per hour ($102,770 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $8,564 a month and $1,976 a week, both figures calculated from the annual pay. For a small jurisdiction, that typical pay stands out among the states.

District of Columbia's typical pay runs 28% above the national typical pay of $80,110 for Rad Techs, according to the same May 2025 data. That gap places the district 3rd among all 51 states and DC for typical Rad Tech pay. About 660 Rad Techs work in the district, a small workforce compared with the 230,490 counted nationwide, but their pay still ranks near the top of the list.

Entry-level positions in the District of Columbia typically offer around $28.43 an hour ($59,130 a year) for new Rad Techs. That's well below the district's typical pay of $102,770, reflecting the lower earnings that come with less experience and fewer specialized skills. Pay tends to move up toward the typical figure within the first few years on the job. Newer techs in busier hospital settings often see faster increases than those in smaller clinics.

Experienced Rad Techs in the district often earn upwards of $53.55 an hour ($111,390 a year), with the top 10% of earners making over $61.60 an hour ($128,120 a year). The gap between entry-level and top pay comes to $68,990 a year. Setting plays a role, with hospitals and specialty imaging centers often paying more than smaller outpatient clinics. Years of experience and additional certifications also separate the higher earners from those just starting out.

Typical Rad Tech pay in the District of Columbia climbed from $80,040 in 2019 to $102,770 in 2025, a gain of $22,730. That's a rise of about 28% over the past six years. The increase wasn't perfectly steady; pay dipped in 2021 before climbing again through 2024 and 2025.

Nationally, typical Rad Tech pay rose about 32% over the same stretch, a bit more than the district's climb. Even so, District of Columbia pay remains well above the national figure in dollar terms. For someone starting a Rad Tech career in the district now, recent years show pay moving upward, though future gains aren't guaranteed.

Washington, the district's only reported metro area, posts a typical Rad Tech pay of $97,390 a year ($46.82 an hour). That figure runs about 5% below the district's overall typical pay of $102,770, since Washington is the sole area with usable local wage data. Because the District of Columbia is essentially one metro area, pay for Rad Techs stays fairly uniform across the district rather than varying by neighborhood.

Washington also carries the district's entire reported Rad Tech workforce, with about 3,170 professionals working in the area, making it both the highest-paying and largest-employing location by default. Because there's only one metro area to compare, there's no meaningful city-to-city spread to report here. Washington's high cost of living, one of the priciest in the country, helps explain why typical pay there sits well above the national figure even as it trails the district-wide number.

Neighboring states pay noticeably less than the District of Columbia. Maryland's typical Rad Tech pay is $85,890 a year, about 16% below the district's figure, while Virginia's typical pay of $80,670 runs about 22% lower. Both gaps reflect the district's higher cost of living relative to its suburbs. Rad Techs considering a move across the Potomac or into Maryland should note that licensure often transfers or can be endorsed between neighboring states, though requirements vary.

Typical Rad Tech pay in the District of Columbia stands at $102,770 a year, up $22,730 since 2019 and running well above the national figure. For readers weighing a move or a new career, the next steps are checking the District of Columbia's licensing or ARRT registry requirements and comparing local figures against nearby Washington-area listings for the clearest picture of current openings and pay.