Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Radiation Therapist

Find Schools Near

What You Need to Know About Radiation Therapist

Job Description: Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist 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.

A Day in the Life of a Radiation Therapist

  • Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials, such as cobalt, radium, cesium, or isotopes, for use in radiation treatments.
  • Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy.
  • Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
  • Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
  • Act as liaison with physicist and supportive care personnel.
  • Photograph treated area of patient and process film.

Skills Needed to be a Radiation Therapist

When polled, Radiation Therapists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Radiologic Therapist
  • Radiology Therapist
  • Radiation Therapy Technician
  • Chief Radiation Therapist (Chief RT)
  • Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist (CT Simulation Therapist)

Radiation Therapist Job Outlook

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 19,100 jobs in the United States for Radiation Therapist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,400 new jobs for Radiation Therapist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,200 job openings in this field each year.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Radiation Therapist are Utah, Colorado, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Radiation Therapist

The average yearly salary of a Radiation Therapist ranges between $56,360 and $124,320.

undefined

Radiation Therapists who work in California, Oregon, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Radiation Therapists in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $86,020
Arizona $84,990
Arkansas $70,940
California $114,280
Colorado $92,670
Connecticut $105,570
Delaware $96,610
District of Columbia $78,610
Florida $86,420
Georgia $86,510
Idaho $86,830
Illinois $86,200
Indiana $82,920
Iowa $78,260
Kansas $66,310
Kentucky $83,950
Louisiana $69,340
Maine $87,000
Maryland $89,120
Massachusetts $93,540
Michigan $79,720
Minnesota $83,270
Mississippi $83,130
Missouri $75,340
Montana $81,580
Nebraska $83,260
Nevada $87,940
New Hampshire $92,770
New Jersey $107,850
New Mexico $89,230
New York $99,710
North Carolina $76,000
Ohio $81,420
Oklahoma $75,080
Oregon $105,970
Pennsylvania $82,660
Rhode Island $94,110
South Carolina $88,850
South Dakota $83,790
Tennessee $73,490
Texas $84,460
Utah $85,760
Vermont $91,440
Virginia $81,550
Washington $101,830
West Virginia $61,230
Wisconsin $75,850

What Tools do Radiation Therapists Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Radiation Therapists:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Web browser software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Image processing software
  • Radiation dose calculation software

Becoming a Radiation Therapist

What kind of Radiation Therapist requirements are there?

undefined

What work experience do I need to become a Radiation Therapist?

undefined

Where do Radiation Therapists Work?

undefined

The table below shows the approximate number of Radiation Therapists employed by various industries.

undefined

References:

Image Credit: via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.