Lithotripsy technologists are radiologic technologists who are certified in renal lithotripsy, a treatment for kidney stones that uses x-ray fluoroscopy to break up the mass. Lithotripsy technologists offer assistance to physicians and nurses during the treatment process by positioning the patient and locating the kidney stone. Salary averages depend on the technologist's experience and where he works.
National Salary Average
In 2010 radiologic technologists, including those who specialized in renal lithotripsy, earned a national salary average of $26.80 an hour, or $55,730 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10th percentile salary was $36,510 and the 90th percentile was $76,850 that year.
High States
The 2010 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey showed many states had average salaries higher than that of the nation. Top-paying states for lipotripsy technologists that year included Massachusetts, where the state average was $78,920 a year; California, at $66,040 a year; Maryland, at $68,940 a year; and Nevada, at $78,920 a year.
Low States
Radiologic and lipotripsy technologists in 2010 earned the least amount of money of any continental state in West Virginia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, where the average income was $42,920 a year. Those in Arkansas earned $44,490 annually while those in Alabama earned $44,730 a year. Puerto Rico was the poorest-paid United States territory at $25,410 a year, and those in Guam earned $40.090 a year.
Top-Paying Cities
In 2010, the top-paying metropolitan area for radiologic technologists, including those specializing in renal lipotripsy, was the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy New England City and Town Area (NECTA) division of Massachusetts. The average salary for this profession was $89,690 a year here, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California was also high at $82,200 a year, and lipotripsy technologists in the Oakland-Fremont-Hayward metropolitan areas earned $77,150 a year.
