Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Nuclear Medicine Technologists score 29 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #533 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 17 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 8 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

29/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #533of 923 jobs
US workers: 17,080BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $101,370a year
In real AI use: 3 of 17tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (6%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 8 (47%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 8 (47%)

Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Process cardiac function studies, using computer.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Record and process results of procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Gather information on patients' illnesses and medical history to guide the choice of diagnostic procedures for therapy.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Position radiation fields, radiation beams, and patient to allow for most effective treatment of patient's disease, using computer.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Develop treatment procedures for nuclear medicine treatment programs.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Perform quality control checks on laboratory equipment or cameras.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Dispose of radioactive materials and store radiopharmaceuticals, following radiation safety procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain and calibrate radioisotope and laboratory equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Measure glandular activity, blood volume, red cell survival, or radioactivity of patient, using scanners, Geiger counters, scintillometers, or other laboratory equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Train or supervise student or subordinate nuclear medicine technologists.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Add radioactive substances to biological specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, to determine therapeutic drug or hormone levels.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about nuclear medicine technologists and AI

Will AI replace nuclear medicine technologists?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Nuclear Medicine Technologists score 29 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #533 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 9 of the job's 17 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 8 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which nuclear medicine technologists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription".

Which nuclear medicine technologists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician"; "Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients"; "Perform quality control checks on laboratory equipment or cameras".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 17 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as nuclear medicine technologists, and what do they earn?

About 17,080 people in the US, with median pay of $101,370 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.