Radiographer
What the work is
Operates X-ray and other medical imaging equipment to produce images for medical diagnostic purposes.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Operates a variety of imaging equipment such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, nuclear scans and ultrasound, to produce diagnostic images
- Ensures patient safety and comfort during imaging procedures
- Positions and adjusts patients and selects appropriate image techniques and settings to achieve optimal image quality
- Evaluates images for technical quality and accuracy
- Collaborates with Radiologists and other Medical Practitioners to interpret and analyse imaging results
- Prepares findings for Medical Practitioners to interpret for medical diagnostic purposes
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the medical imaging department of a fictional regional hospital. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A scared child leaves the room laughing about having their bones photographed
- Your clear image helps the doctors find an answer quickly
- A patient who dreaded the machine tells you that you made it easy
Hard days
- A patient in pain who cannot hold the position you need
- Back-to-back requests from the emergency department while a queue builds
- Wearing heavy protective gear and working in a darkened room all day
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 263133, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.