SOC 29-1124.00

    Radiation Therapists

    Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards.

    Median pay
    $105,310
    Growth
    +2.8%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    700
    Typical education
    Associate's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $80,560
    Median
    $105,310
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $156,710
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    17,070 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Radiation therapists administer prescribed radiation treatments to patients, often working alongside oncologists. The career offers a median annual pay of $105,310, with typical entry requiring an associate's degree.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What radiation therapists do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    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.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Radiation therapists spend their days assisting and caring for others by delivering precise radiation treatments. Following the prescriptions and diagnoses of oncologists, they prepare specialized equipment, which includes setting up immobilization, treatment, and protection devices. Daily activities involve controlling machines, inspecting equipment, and documenting detailed treatment information. They also assist with tumor localization and dosimetry procedures.

    This role requires a strong realistic interest, meaning a preference for hands-on, practical work. Therapists must communicate effectively with patients, supervisors, and peers, utilizing active listening, social perceptiveness, and speaking skills. They need a solid foundation in medicine, physics, mathematics, therapy, and computers. Because they work directly with patients undergoing cancer treatment, therapists must demonstrate empathy, stress tolerance, self-control, and dependability. They must also be cautious and pay close attention to detail to ensure patient safety.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, individuals typically need an associate's degree, vocational training, or related experience. The most common college majors that prepare students for this field are in allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions.

    Licensing requirements vary by location, as some states list a license for this work. Additionally, professionals in this field can pursue credentials such as the Certified Medical Dosimetrist certification, which is offered by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for radiation therapists was $105,310. Earnings vary based on experience and location; the lowest 10% of workers earn less than $80,560, while the highest 10% earn more than $156,710.

    There are 17,070 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 2.8%, which is as fast as average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 700 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    66 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    61 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    4 / 100
    Social (S)
    63 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    12 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    58 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RSI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Assisting and Caring for Others
    90
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    90
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    90
    Documenting/Recording Information
    90
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    88
    Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    86
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    86
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    85
    Working with Computers
    85
    Getting Information
    84
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Critical Thinking
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Coordination
    • Monitoring
    • Service Orientation
    • Speaking
    • Complex Problem Solving

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language
    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Physics
    • Mathematics
    • Education and Training
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Therapy and Counseling
    • Psychology
    • Biology

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Information Ordering
    • Written Expression
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Near Vision
    • Speech Clarity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Cooperation
    • Empathy
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Sincerity
    • Optimism

    Also called

    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 · Registered Radiation Therapist · Staff Radiation Therapist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to radiation therapists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Radiation Therapists$105,310 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Wagner College logo
      Wagner College

      Staten Island, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $156,982
      Median debt
      $27,000
    2. 2St. John's University-New York logo
      St. John's University-New York

      Queens, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $102,500
      4 yrs after
      $142,774
      Median debt
      $23,325
    3. 3John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences logo
      John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences

      South Bend, IN · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $112,673
      4 yrs after
      $122,061
      Median debt
      $23,437
    4. 4Saint Francis University logo
      Saint Francis University

      Loretto, PA · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $115,813
      Median debt
      $28,000
    5. 5D'Youville University logo
      D'Youville University

      Buffalo, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $113,290
      4 yrs after
      $114,737
      Median debt
      $30,703
    6. 6Molloy College logo
      Molloy College

      Rockville Centre, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $90,567
      4 yrs after
      $111,267
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7Salisbury University logo
      Salisbury University

      Salisbury, MD · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $75,312
      4 yrs after
      $109,739
      Median debt
      $23,250
    8. 8Long Island University logo
      Long Island University

      Brookville, NY · Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $90,526
      4 yrs after
      $107,539
      Median debt
      $22,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What radiation therapists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    16 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about radiation therapists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What is the typical education required to become a radiation therapist?

    Most people enter this field with an associate's degree, vocational training, or related experience. Relevant college majors include allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions.

    What are the job prospects and yearly openings for this career?

    The career is projected to grow by 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average growth rate. This expansion is expected to create 700 openings each year, adding to the 17,070 people currently employed.

    Are there any certifications or licenses needed?

    Some states list a license for radiation therapy work. Professionals can also earn the Certified Medical Dosimetrist credential from the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.