Radiation Therapists
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Radiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases in patients by administering radiation treatments.
Work Environment: Radiation therapists work in hospitals, offices of physicians, and outpatient centers. Most radiation therapists work full time.
How to Become One: Most radiation therapists complete programs that lead to an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy. Radiation therapists must be licensed or certified in most states. Requirements vary by state, but often include passing a national certification exam.
Salary: The median annual wage for radiation therapists is $82,790.
Job Outlook: Employment of radiation therapists is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of radiation therapists with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a radiation therapist with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Radiation Therapist Jobs
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Travel Nurse RN - Neuro - $2,328 per week in Falls Church, VA
- TravelNurseSource
- Falls Church,VA
TravelNurseSource is working with Magnet Medical to find a qualified Neuro RN in Falls Church, Virginia, 22041! Pay Information $2,328 per week About The Position Purpose of the Position:Responsible for the delivery...
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Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant - $43+ per visit
- BAYADA Home Health Care
- Arlington,VA
BAYADA Home Health Care is seeking a Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant for a job in Arlington, Virginia. Job Description & RequirementsSpecialty: Physical Therapy...
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Travel Radiation Therapist
- Epic Travel Staffing
- Fairfax,VA
Epic Travel Staffing is hiring a Travel - Radiation...
What Radiation Therapists Do[About this section] [To Top]
Radiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases in patients by administering radiation treatments.
Duties of Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists typically do the following:
- Explain treatment plans to the patient and answer questions about treatment
- Protect the patients and themselves from improper exposure to radiation
- Determine the exact location of the area requiring treatment
- Calibrate and operate the machine to treat the patient with radiation
- Monitor the patient to check for unusual reactions to the treatment
- Keep detailed records of treatment
Radiation therapists operate machines, such as linear accelerators, to deliver concentrated radiation therapy to the region of a patient's tumor. Radiation treatment can shrink or remove cancers and tumors.
Radiation therapists are part of the oncology teams that treat patients with cancer. They often work with the following specialists:
- Radiation oncologists are physicians who specialize in radiation therapy
- Oncology nurses specialize in caring for patients with cancer
- Medical physicists help in planning of radiation treatments, develop better and safer radiation therapies, and check that radiation output is accurate
Work Environment for Radiation Therapists[About this section] [To Top]
Radiation therapists hold about 16,400 jobs. The largest employers of radiation therapists are as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 65% |
| Offices of physicians | 25% |
| Outpatient care centers | 5% |
Radiation therapists stand for long periods and may need to lift or turn patients.
Injuries and illnesses for Radiation Therapists
Because radiation therapists work with radiation and radioactive materials, they should be aware of the risks involved and must follow safety procedures. These procedures require therapists to be in a different room while administering radiation to a patient and to wear a film badge dosimeter to track their exposure.
Radiation Therapist Work Schedules
Most radiation therapists work full time. Radiation therapists keep a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are usually planned in advance.
How to Become a Radiation Therapist[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Radiation Therapists near you!
Most radiation therapists complete programs that lead to an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in radiation therapy. Radiation therapists must be licensed or certified in most states. Requirements vary by state, but often include passing a national certification exam.
Education for Radiation Therapists
Employers usually prefer to hire applicants who have an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in radiation therapy. However, candidates may qualify for some positions by completing a certificate program.
Radiation therapy programs include courses in radiation therapy procedures and the scientific theories behind them. These programs often include experience in a clinical setting and courses in human anatomy and physiology, physics, algebra, computer science, and research methodology. There are about 110 accredited educational programs recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
Important Qualities for Radiation Therapists
Detail oriented. Radiation therapists must follow exact instructions and input exact measurements to make sure the patient is exposed to the correct amount of radiation.
Interpersonal skills. Radiation therapists work closely with patients. It is important that therapists be comfortable interacting with people who may be going through physical and emotional stress.
Physical stamina. Radiation therapists must be able to be on their feet for long periods and be able to lift and move patients who need assistance.
Technical skills. Radiation therapists work with computers and large pieces of technological equipment, so they must be comfortable operating those devices.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Radiation Therapists
In most states, radiation therapists must be licensed or certified. Requirements vary by state, but typically include graduation from an accredited radiation therapy program and ARRT certification.
To become ARRT certified, an applicant must complete an accredited radiation therapy program, adhere to ARRT ethical standards, and pass the certification exam. The exam covers radiation protection and quality assurance, clinical concepts in radiation oncology, treatment planning, treatment delivery, and patient care and education. A list of accredited programs is available from ARRT.
Many jobs also require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS) certification.
Advancement for Radiation Therapists
With additional education and certification, therapists can become medical dosimetrists. Dosimetrists are responsible for calculating the correct dose of radiation that is used in the treatment of cancer patients.
Radiation Therapist Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for radiation therapists is $82,790. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,030, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,550.
The median annual wages for radiation therapists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Outpatient care centers | $121,140 |
| Offices of physicians | $82,540 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $81,050 |
Most radiation therapists work full time. Radiation therapists keep a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are usually planned in advance.
Job Outlook for Radiation Therapists[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of radiation therapists is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 800 openings for radiation therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Radiation Therapists
The incidence of cancer increases as people age, so an aging population may increase demand for radiation therapists. Continued advancements in the detection of cancer and the development of more sophisticated treatment techniques may also lead to greater demand for radiation therapy.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Radiation therapists | 16,400 | 17,500 | 6 | 1,000 |
More Radiation Therapist Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about radiation therapists, visit
American Society of Radiologic Technologists
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
For information about becoming a medical dosimetrist, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.