# Radiation Therapists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/radiation-therapists
- SOC code: 29-1124.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $105,310 (10th percentile $80,560, 90th percentile $156,710)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.8%
- Openings a year: 700
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RSI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 66 |
| Investigative (I) | 61 |
| Artistic (A) | 4 |
| Social (S) | 63 |
| Enterprising (E) | 12 |
| Conventional (C) | 58 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 90/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 90/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 90/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 90/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5109) (CIP 5109, 1,504 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Wagner College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wagner-college-3148) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | not reported | $156,982 | $27,000 |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-john-s-university-new-york-2579) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $102,500 | $142,774 | $23,325 |
| [John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/college/john-patrick-university-of-health-and-applied-sciences-1341) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $112,673 | $122,061 | $23,437 |
| [Saint Francis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-francis-university-2301) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | not reported | $115,813 | $28,000 |
| [D'Youville University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/d-youville-university-755) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $113,290 | $114,737 | $30,703 |
| [Molloy College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/molloy-college-1749) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $90,567 | $111,267 | not reported |
| [Salisbury University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/salisbury-university-2329) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $75,312 | $109,739 | $23,250 |
| [Long Island University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/long-island-university-1520) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $90,526 | $107,539 | $22,000 |

## Related careers

- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Radiologic Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/radiologic-technologists-and-technicians): $80,110 median pay
- [Respiratory Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/respiratory-therapists): $82,280 median pay
- [Nuclear Medicine Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nuclear-medicine-technologists): $101,370 median pay
- [Diagnostic Medical Sonographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/diagnostic-medical-sonographers): $96,590 median pay
- [Radiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/radiologists): $420,860 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.