CA · Watsonville · Updated October 15, 2026

Radiologic Technologist jobs in Watsonville, CA

Radiologic Technologists in the Watsonville area earn a median of $59.80 per hour, about $124,370 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $49.84 and $76.42. That ranks 7th of 342 U.S. metro areas for radiologic technologist pay, and 7th of 306 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Watsonville and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Watsonville.

Open Radiologic Technologist roles near Watsonville

Roles in other cities of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area.

PermanentPosted 8 days ago

Radiology Tech II

CommonSpirit Health · Santa Cruz, CA

$62.12–$72.02/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101666034160
Top 25% pay
View role

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Radiologic Technologist pay in Watsonville, CA

The metro median is 16% above the California statewide median of $51.76 per hour. Nationally the median is $37.34 per hour. BLS counts about 120 radiologic technologists and technicians employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.84).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$36.39$75,6903% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$49.84$103,67033% above U.S. median
Median$59.80$124,37060% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$76.42$158,950105% above U.S. median
Top 10%$76.42$158,950105% above U.S. median

How Watsonville ranks

  • 7th of 342 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 7th of 306 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 21 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Watsonville

  • Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $59.80 median hour buys what $54.42 buys at the national price level, 46% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Watsonville paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,153
  • Per year: $107,640
  • Per month: $8,970

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Watsonville

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$148
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,638
13-week assignment$21,294

Travel radiologic technologist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Watsonville

CMS lists 1 hospital in Watsonville, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of radiologic technologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville, CA
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Radiologic Technologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Gilroy, CA12 mi$75.56/hr60,390
Santa Cruz, CA15 mi$59.80/hr62,581
Salinas, CA18 mi$48.55/hr160,783
San Jose, CA26 mi$75.56/hr997,368
Cupertino, CA31 mi$75.56/hr58,710
Santa Clara, CA32 mi$75.56/hr133,132

Radiologic Technologist jobs in California · Radiologic Technologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

ARRT certification in radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Watsonville

Watsonville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do radiologic technologists make in Watsonville, CA?

Radiologic Technologists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $59.80 per hour, about $124,370 a year. The middle half earn between $49.84 and $76.42 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Watsonville a good place for radiologic technologists once cost of living is counted?

Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 7th of 306 metro areas for radiologic technologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 7th of 342 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring radiologic technologists in Watsonville?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Watsonville.

Do I need a California license to work in Watsonville as a radiologic technologist?

ARRT certification in radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Watsonville?

The federal per diem benchmark in Watsonville is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place radiologic technologists in Watsonville?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Watsonville and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Watsonville.

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Rad Tech near Watsonville, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Rad Tech pay reportWatsonville, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 2 postings$72.79/ hr$60–$85
  • CommonSpirit HealthCAMARILLO, CA · 7 postings$63.98/ hr$40–$79
  • Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenSacramento, CA · 3 postings$63.16/ hr$37–$74
  • Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 2 postings$61.17/ hr$54–$69

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$40Median$50.59High$69

62 Rad Tech postings with published pay in California, 59 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 62 Rad Tech roles

  1. Radiology Tech IPer diem
    $42.52–$52.95/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Camarillo, CA · posted today
  2. Diagnostic Radiologic TechnologistPermanent
    $84k–$109k/ year
    Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Camp Pendleton, CA · posted yesterday

+ 60 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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