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 Tasks Do Radiation Therapists Take On?
The core tasks performed by radiation therapists cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top radiation therapists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Radiation Therapists 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
Employment and Demand
There are about 1,196,673 radiation therapists working in the United States today. Employment is projected 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 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Radiation Therapists Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for radiation therapists differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 work in these industries:
| 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:
Tools and Technology
- 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
Daily working conditions for radiation therapists reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Most radiation therapists positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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
Students preparing for radiation therapists often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on 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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