Radiography Tech Salary

Lake Havasu City vs Tempe: Radiologic Technologist and Technician Salary (2026)

Compare radiologic technologist and technician salaries between Lake Havasu City, AZ and Tempe, AZ. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Lake Havasu City, AZ
$79,399
$38.18/hr
Tempe, AZ
$87,062
$41.85/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLake Havasu City, AZTempe, AZ
Median Salary$79,399$87,062
Hourly Rate$38.18$41.85
Entry Level (P10)$41,916$62,590
25th Percentile$66,796$71,326
75th Percentile$99,625$106,231
Top Earner (P90)$103,521$127,252
Total Employed12043
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Lake Havasu City ($79,399) and Tempe ($87,062) radiologic technologist and technician salaries.Lake Havasu CityTempeMedian Salary$79,399$87,062Entry Level (P10)$41,916$62,590Top Earner (P90)$103,521$127,252US Median $84,348

Verdict

Tempe, AZ offers better overall compensation for radiologic technologists and technicians, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Lake Havasu City.

The salary gap between Lake Havasu City and Tempe is $7,663 (9.65%). Tempe's median is +3.22% compared to the US national median of $84,348.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Lake Havasu City spans $61,605,Tempe spans $64,662. Tempe has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced radiologic technologist and technicians.

Lake Havasu City
P10 (Entry)$41,916
P25$66,796
Median$79,399
P75$99,625
P90 (Top)$103,521
Tempe
P10 (Entry)$62,590
P25$71,326
Median$87,062
P75$106,231
P90 (Top)$127,252

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Tempe ($88,388 effective) pays 4.75% more than Lake Havasu City ($84,379 effective).

Lake Havasu City
Nominal: $79,399
CoL Index: 94.098
Adjusted: $84,379
Tempe
Nominal: $87,062
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $88,388

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Lake Havasu City if…

  • Larger job market (120 employed)
  • You prefer the Arizona area and lifestyle

Choose Tempe if…

  • Higher median salary ($87,062/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($127,252)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $88,388)
  • You prefer the Arizona area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, radiologic technologist and technician salaries in Lake Havasu City grew 39.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 10.0% growth in Tempe over the same period.

Lake Havasu City, AZ

+39.4%

$54,090 (2019) → $75,410 (2025)

Tempe, AZ

+10.0%

$75,176 (2024) → $82,688 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays radiologic technologist and technicians more: Lake Havasu City or Tempe?

Tempe has a higher median radiologic technologist and technician salary at $87,062/year, compared to Lake Havasu City at $79,399/year — a difference of $7,663 (9.65%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Lake Havasu City and Tempe?

Lake Havasu City radiologic technologist and technicians earn $38.18/hr while Tempe hygienists earn $41.85/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Lake Havasu City to Tempe as a radiologic technologist and technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Lake Havasu City and Tempe. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Lake Havasu City = $84,379, Tempe = $88,388), job availability (120 vs 43 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level radiologic technologist and technicians earn in Lake Havasu City vs Tempe?

Entry-level (10th percentile) radiologic technologist and technicians earn $41,916 in Lake Havasu City and $62,590 in Tempe. The Tempe area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, RT(R), RT(TM)

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in radiologic technology. They specialize in mammography and work in an outpatient imaging center.

Clinically reviewed by Marisol Patel, RT(R), BSData verified by Samuel Kim, RT(R)(CT), MHA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.29% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RT(R), RT(TM), a licensed radiologic technologist and technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov