Radiation Therapists: Career Overview
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
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What Do Radiation Therapists Do?
Typical responsibilities of radiation therapists span:
- Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
- Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
- Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
- Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
- Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
What Radiation Therapists Need to Know
Effective radiation therapists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist (CT Simulation Therapist)
- Dosimetrist
- Radiation Oncology Registered Nurse (Radiation Oncology RN)
- Radiation Therapist (RT)
- Radiation Therapy Technician
- Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT)
- Radiologic Therapist
- Radiology Therapist
Job Outlook
There are about 1,196,673 radiation therapists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -1.4% over the projection horizon.
Radiation Therapists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $43,552 |
| Hourly median | $20.94 |
| 10th percentile | $26,845 |
| 25th percentile | $35,199 |
| 75th percentile | $51,906 |
| 90th percentile | $60,259 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Radiation Therapists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $160,040 |
| Washington | $129,100 |
| Oregon | $125,680 |
| New Jersey | $124,820 |
| New York | $122,500 |
| Illinois | $120,360 |
| Alaska | $120,310 |
| Delaware | $110,000 |
| Connecticut | $108,310 |
| Vermont | $107,580 |
| Massachusetts | $104,740 |
| Colorado | $104,110 |
| Utah | $104,040 |
| Virginia | $102,680 |
| Montana | $102,520 |
| Arizona | $102,270 |
| New Hampshire | $101,980 |
| Texas | $101,740 |
| Maryland | $101,590 |
| Idaho | $100,230 |
| West Virginia | $99,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,420 |
| Indiana | $98,130 |
| Ohio | $98,110 |
| Kentucky | $97,940 |
| Minnesota | $97,360 |
| South Carolina | $97,350 |
| Nevada | $97,200 |
| Florida | $96,940 |
| District of Columbia | $96,640 |
| Georgia | $95,960 |
| North Carolina | $95,680 |
| South Dakota | $93,960 |
| Louisiana | $93,320 |
| Wisconsin | $90,760 |
| Missouri | $88,100 |
| Nebraska | $86,840 |
| Michigan | $86,750 |
| Arkansas | $86,690 |
| Oklahoma | $86,460 |
| Alabama | $85,950 |
| Maine | $84,650 |
| Kansas | $84,520 |
| Mississippi | $81,160 |
| Iowa | $78,210 |
| Tennessee | $77,690 |
| North Dakota | $77,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,130 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for radiation therapists shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $146,755 | 12.5% | 0.72 |
| Middle Atlantic | $114,165 | 19.2% | 1.11 |
| New England | $104,065 | 3.7% | 0.77 |
| Rocky Mountains | $102,309 | 1.4% | 0.65 |
| Southwest | $100,364 | 12.8% | 0.92 |
| Southeast | $94,804 | 30.7% | 1.19 |
| Great Lakes | $92,709 | 12.3% | 1.07 |
| Plains States | $87,668 | 7.5% | 1.12 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $187,700 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $184,470 | 190 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $168,410 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $159,600 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $155,360 | 380 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $132,230 | 250 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $131,490 | 1,200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $122,880 | 120 |
Top Industries Employing Radiation Therapists
The largest employers of radiation therapists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 17,930 | $101,940 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 380 | $104,880 |
Radiation Therapists work in the following industries:
Software Radiation Therapists Use
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Eclipse IDE (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of radiation therapists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
Getting Started in This Career
Typical radiation therapists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Physical Therapists (Supplemental)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Acute Care Nurses (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Primary-Long)
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring radiation therapists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1124.00 (Radiation Therapists).
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