Also called: Preclinical Imaging Technologist, Micro-CT and MRI Technologist (Research)
Runs tiny MRI, CT and PET scanners built for mice and rats, so scientists can watch tumors shrink or brains change without surgery.
Anesthetizes a mouse, places it on a warm bed inside a mini MRI scanner and sets up a scan that tracks a tumor week by week. You process the images into 3D models for the research team, maintain the machines and keep careful animal welfare records.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in biology, physics or radiologic technology; animal handling and imaging skills learned on the job.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Radiologic Technology.
Growing about average. Steady with drug research funding.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI speeds image analysis, but running scans on live animals and caring for them stays hands-on.
Classes: Biology, Physics, Computer science.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.