Are you passionate about women’s health, job flexibility, and travel?
If so, a career as a traveling mammography technologist might be exactly what you’ve been looking for!
In this exciting and dynamic role, you’ll not only help detect breast cancer early by using advanced imaging technology but also have the freedom to work wherever you want and explore new places.
This comprehensive article from the team at Trusted Nurse Staffing walks you through everything it takes to become a travel mammo tech, including the benefits, skills, qualifications, demand, and earning potential — and where to go to find the perfect travel mammo tech job for your needs.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Travel Mammo Tech?
- The Benefits of Working as a Traveling Mammo Tech
- How To Become a Travel Mammo Tech: A Look at Skills, Qualifications, Demand, and Earning Potential
- Start Your Travel Mammo Tech Journey With Pronto
What Is a Travel Mammo Tech?
A traveling mammography technician operates a diagnostic mammography unit that produces breast images. They work in temporary assignments and:
- Explain the mammography process and procedures to their patients and families
- Ensure the utmost in patient privacy
- Position and immobilize the patient’s breast in the unit
- Operate the mammography equipment and computer systems to capture the best breast images
- Observe the breast scanning process by monitoring the video display and making adjustments in the density or contrast to improve the quality of the picture
- Review and evaluate the images to ensure they are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes
- Determine if any follow-up images or views are needed
- Maintain clear and detailed patient records
- Practice radiation safety measures established by the government to ensure the safety of patients and staff
As a travel mammo tech, you may opt to take positions across the county or accept a contracted position in your local area.
Trusted Nurse Staffing specializes in helping people find their nursing dream job! Use the Pronto job search to find available travel mammo tech assignments today.
The Benefits of Working as a Traveling Mammo Tech
Besides having a positive impact on women’s health by helping to detect breast cancer early, there are numerous benefits of working travel mammo tech jobs, including:
- Stable Monday through Friday daytime schedule, with no weekend hours
- Slower-paced working environment than many other specialties
- Great pay
- Higher earning potential than permanent mammography tech positions
- Working at prestigious imaging centers and hospitals across the U.S.
- Exposure to new and diverse protocols, technologies, and work cultures
- Flexibility and independence when it comes to choosing locations and schedules
- Paid housing, license reimbursement, travel stipends, and other fantastic benefits
- Building a solid resume that may lead to more career options
How To Become a Travel Mammo Tech: A Look at Skills, Qualifications, Demand, and Earning Potential
Skills
If you’re a woman, you know that even the thought of a routine mammogram can be stressful. As travel mammo tech you’ll need to be especially personable and able to put others at ease to turn a sometimes awkward exam into a very comfortable and pleasant experience.
You’ll also need to excel at:
- Explaining imaging procedures to patients
- Properly positioning patients to get optimal images
- Having a strong sense of compassion as you interact with patients and their families
- Communicating with radiologists, patients, and co-workers
- Developing an excellent rapport with your patients
- Being highly conscientious
- Following instructions to avoid making errors during the test
- Explaining the testing process to your patients
- Attention to detail
- Technical expertise when using medical equipment
- Record-keeping and quality control processes
- Familiarity with mammography equipment, radiation safety, and imaging techniques
And since you’ll be on your feet and using your upper body all day, you’ll need to be in good physical condition.
Qualifications
The qualifications for becoming a travel mammo tech vary from state to state, but it generally requires the following steps:
- Obtain your education. While most employers like mammography technologists to have at least an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, particularly if it’s in radiology, can give you a competitive edge over the competition.
- Become certified. Once you have your degree, in most states you’ll also need to obtain certification from the American Registry for Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
- Continue your education. To remain up-to-date on the current advancements in the competitive field of mammography technology, you’ll need to continue your education. You may also choose to enroll in a bachelor’s or master’s program to obtain an advanced position with higher pay.
Demand
According to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS), the overall employment demand for radiologic technologists is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, which is above the average projection for all other occupations.
Much of this growth stems from the need to replace technicians who transfer to other occupations or retire.
Earning Potential
Salary.com reveals that the average yearly travel mammo tech salary in the United States is between $74,367 and $89,302, with an average income of around $81,938.
Of course, nurses with advanced education or training will have a higher income potential, while those just starting out will receive lower entry level pay.
Besides the number of years of experience, where you choose to work can impact your earning potential as a travel mammo tech. Often, you’ll find that metropolitan areas tend to earn higher salaries than rural locations.
Most mammography technologists work full-time, with between 35–40 hours each week. The availability of overtime pay is another possible option for increasing your overall earning potential.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Travel Mammo Tech Job
As you’re considering the possibility of specific travel mammo tech jobs, you’ll want to be sure to consider these important details:
- Location – Choose an inviting location that has your favorite kind of weather, recreational activities you love, or a new part of the country to explore.
- Schedule – Consider the number of hours/days and shift timing preferences available for this assignment.
- Duration – The typical travel mammo tech contract length is 13 weeks, however, you may find contracts between 6–10 weeks long, depending on the facility’s needs. On some occasions, you might even be able to snag a contract that’s shorter than 4 weeks or longer than 13 weeks.
- Pay and benefits – Compare the compensation packages and business expense coverage of various assignments.
- Housing – Will you choose to opt for furnished housing through your staffing agency or find your own?
- Support – Research the best staffing agencies to ensure you’ll have the support you need before, during, and after your assignment.
- Facility reputation – Ask around to find the best healthcare systems and radiology centers.
Taking the time to carefully weigh each of these factors will help get you on the way to a travel mammo tech assignment you’ll be sure to love.
Start Your Travel Mammo Tech Journey With Pronto
If you’re ready to explore mammo travel tech jobs, Trusted Nurse Staffing is here to help!
We aren’t an award-winning travel nursing agency for nothing. We’re known throughout the industry for helping travel nurses just like you get their careers up and running and achieve their nursing career goals.
We also offer a plethora of amazing benefits for allied health travel professionals that include:
- Competitive compensation:
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- 401(k) with 4% a match after 1,000 hours and 1 year of employment
- Customizable pay packages
- Weekly paychecks
- Direct deposit
- Overtime and double time
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- Top-tier benefits:
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- A welcome box
- $1500 referral bonus program
- Loyalty and discount programs
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- Health and wellness benefits
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- Employer-sponsored health insurance
- Guardian dental and vision insurance
- An HRA to fully cover deductibles
- Wellness benefits
- Portable permanent whole life insurance
- License, certification, and CEU reimbursements
- Portable short-term and long-term disability insurance
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- Flexible work options:
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- Flexible contract option, including full-time, part-time, and per diem assignments
- Housing, meal, and travel stipends
- Rental car options
We’re also thrilled to announce an exciting new benefit — student loan assistance after you’ve been on board with Trusted Nurse Staffing for 90 days.
With the Trusted Nurse Staffing team by your side, you’ll be realizing your dream of becoming a travel mammo tech in no time!
Use our Pronto job search to find your next assignment today.