### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Medical Dosimetrists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			medical dosimetrists							
						Quick Facts:     Medical Dosimetrists2023     Median Pay
            						$132,880     per year
										$63.88     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    3,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    100What Medical Dosimetrists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most medical dosimetrists work in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and physicians' offices. They may spend much of their time working at a computer.
            
                                                How to Become a Medical Dosimetrist
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor's degree and must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program. Employers usually require workers to have certification.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for medical dosimetrists was $132,880 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of medical dosimetrists is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 200 openings for medical dosimetrists 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for medical dosimetrists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of medical dosimetrists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about medical dosimetrists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Medical Dosimetrists Do 
            

			medical dosimetristsMedical dosimetrists consult with other members of the oncology team to create patient treatment plans.			
Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases.
Duties
Medical dosimetrists typically do the following:
Review a patient’s documents, such as their CT and MRI scans
Calculate the proper dose of radiation to be administered to a patient
Consult with other members of the radiation oncology team and design the radiation-delivery plan for patients
May assist in designing molds, casts, and other immobilization devices to position patients during treatment
Document treatment provided to a patient
Perform quality assurance checks of treatment equipmentMedical dosimetrists develop and manage the radiation plans for patients receiving treatment for cancer or other diseases. They may begin by reviewing patient records, such as computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Then, based on a dosage range prescribed by the physician, medical dosimetrists calculate the exact dose and angle of radiation to be administered. They make these calculations both manually and with computers.
Medical dosimetrists’ calculations may vary based on the type of radiation treatment a physician prescribes. For example, external beam radiation angled at a tumor from outside the body may be administered at a higher dose than brachytherapy, which involves placing a radioactive device near the tumor inside the body.
In addition to overseeing radiation treatment, medical dosimetrists’ other responsibilities include helping to design immobilization devices that ensure patients remain motionless during procedures. They also keep records of each patient’s treatment, load or receive shipments, use radiation monitoring devices to measure radioactivity levels in patients, and calibrate equipment to ensure accuracy.
Dosimetrists are part of a radiation oncology team that usually includes medical physicists, oncology nurses, radiation oncologists and other physicians, and radiation therapists.
 Work Environment
			medical dosimetristsMedical dosimetrists spend much of their time working at a computer.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Medical dosimetrists held about 3,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of medical dosimetrists were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                48%Offices of physicians
                23Self-employed workers
                5Outpatient care centers
                4Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                3Medical dosimetrists spend much of their time at the computer when calculating doses of radiation and designing treatment plans. Dosimetrists typically have less direct contact with patients compared with other members of the radiation oncology team. However, they occasionally interact with patients, such as to reposition them for procedures.
Injuries and Illnesses
Medical dosimetrists work with radiation and radioactive material, so they must follow procedures for safe handling. Safety protocol includes wearing a film badge dosimeter to track radiation exposure.
Work Schedules
Most medical dosimetrists work full time. They usually have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are often planned in advance.
 How to Become a Medical Dosimetrist

			medical dosimetristsMedical dosimetrists must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program.			
To enter the occupation, medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor's degree and must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program. Employers usually require workers to have certification.
Education
Medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in medical dosimetry or a related field, such as biology or physical science. Prospective dosimetrists whose degree is not in medical dosimetry may complete a certificate or master’s degree program in medical dosimetry. These programs usually last 1 to 2 years. A list of accredited medical dosimetry programs is available from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
Admission to medical dosimetry programs is often competitive. Applicants may be required to be a registered radiation therapist or have a bachelor’s degree that includes coursework in specific subjects, such as biology, medical terminology, and calculus.
Medical dosimetry programs include courses such as physics, anatomy, and radiology. Programs also include supervised clinical experience in which students work onsite with practicing dosimetrists.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Employers usually prefer to hire medical dosimetrists who have earned the Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD) credential from the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB). Certification requires that candidates have a bachelor's degree, graduate from an accredited medical dosimetry program, and pass an exam. Maintaining certification requires completion of a specified number of hours of continuing education.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Some medical dosimetrists work as radiation therapists before earning the credentials to become dosimetrists.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***To ensure proper treatment, medical dosimetrists must convey important information about a patient’s radiation dosage both orally and in writing.******
***Critical-thinking skills.***Medical dosimetrists analyze a patient's needs and health-related data, along with other factors, to determine treatment plans.
***Detail oriented***. Medical dosimetrists must be precise when calculating the amount and location of radiation that a patient will receive.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Medical dosimetrists collaborate with other members of the radiation oncology team throughout a patient’s treatment.
***Math skills.***Medical dosimetrists need a strong background in mathematics in order to calculate and verify the proper doses of radiation.
***Technical skills.***Medical dosimetrists use computers and must be comfortable working with a variety of specialized medical equipment.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Medical DosimetristsMedian annual wages, May 2023Medical dosimetrists$132,880  Health technologists and technicians$51,250  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for medical dosimetrists was $132,880 in May 2023. 


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 $86,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $170,330.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for medical dosimetrists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                $136,990Hospitals; state, local, and private
                135,720Outpatient care centers
                131,580Offices of physicians
                129,370Most medical dosimetrists work full time. They usually have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are often planned in advance.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Medical DosimetristsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Health technologists and technicians7%  Medical dosimetrists3%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of medical dosimetrists is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 200 openings for medical dosimetrists 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
	
			
As adults get older, their likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer rises. The expected increase in the number of older people will therefore increase the demand for cancer care. Because radiotherapy plays a vital role in treating this disease, medical dosimetrists will be needed to help develop treatment plans for patients.
			

                        Employment projections data for     medical dosimetrists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Medical dosimetrists**
			29-2036
			3,500
			3,600
			3
			100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Medical dosimetrists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of medical dosimetrists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Nuclear Medicine Technologists**
            Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs for imaging or treatment.
            Associate's degree
            $92,500**Physicians and Surgeons**
            Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            This wage is equal to or greater than $239,200 per year.**Physicists and Astronomers**
            Physicists and astronomers study the interactions of matter and energy.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $149,530**Radiation Therapists**
            Radiation therapists administer doses of radiation to patients who have cancer or other serious diseases.
            Associate's degree
            $98,300**Radiologic and MRI Technologists**
            Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.
            Associate's degree
            $76,020**Registered Nurses**
            Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $86,070
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about medical dosimetrists, visit
American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD)
For a list of accredited medical dosimetry programs, visit
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
For more information about certification, visit
Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Medical Dosimetrists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Dosimetrists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-dosimetrists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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