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

Radiation Therapists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			radiation therapists imageRadiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases in patients by administering radiation treatments.							
						Quick Facts:     Radiation Therapists2023     Median Pay
            						$98,300     per year
										$47.26     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    15,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    2% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    400What Radiation Therapists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Radiation therapists administer doses of radiation to patients who have cancer or other serious diseases.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Radiation therapists work in hospitals, offices of physicians, and outpatient centers. Most radiation therapists work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Radiation Therapist
                                                
                        
Radiation therapists typically need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy. Most states require radiation therapists to be licensed or certified, which often includes passing a national certification exam.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for radiation therapists was $98,300 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of radiation therapists is projected to grow							 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 700 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for radiation therapists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of radiation therapists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about radiation therapists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Radiation Therapists Do 
            

			Radiation therapistsRadiation therapists are part of the oncology teams that treat patients with cancer.			
Radiation therapists administer doses of radiation to patients who have cancer or other serious diseases.
Duties
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 location of tumors to ensure correct positioning of patients for administering each 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 treatmentRadiation therapists operate machines, such as linear accelerators, to deliver concentrated radiation therapy to the region of a patient’s tumor. Radiation treatment may shrink or eliminate cancers and tumors.
Radiation therapists are part of the oncology teams that treat patients with cancer. They often work with the following specialists:
Medical dosimetrists calculate the correct dose of radiation for cancer treatment
Medical physicists help in planning radiation treatments, develop better and safer radiation therapies, and check that radiation output is accurate
Oncology nurses specialize in caring for patients with cancer
Radiation oncologists are physicians who specialize in radiation therapy
 Work Environment
			Radiation therapistsRadiation therapists work in hospitals, offices of physicians, and outpatient centers.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Radiation therapists held about 15,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of radiation therapists were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                66%Offices of physicians
                24Outpatient care centers
                3Radiation therapists stand for long periods and may need to lift or turn patients.
Injuries and illnesses
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.
Work Schedules
Most radiation therapists work full time. They have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are usually planned in advance.
 How to Become a Radiation Therapist

			Radiation therapistsRadiation therapists must be licensed or certified in most states.			
Radiation therapists typically need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy. Most states require radiation therapists to be licensed or certified, which often includes passing a national certification exam.
Education
Employers usually prefer to hire applicants who have an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in a healthcare and related field, such as radiation therapy, or in science technologiesor biology. 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 such as human anatomy and physiology, physics, and algebra. A list of accredited radiation therapy programs is available from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology(JRCERT).
Important Qualities
***Compassion.***Radiation therapists work with patients who are suffering from cancer or another serious disease. They must display empathy while helping patients through the experience.
***Detail oriented.*** Radiation therapists must follow precise 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 over multiple weeks and must be able to explain the treatment. Radiation therapists also must work well with other members of the oncology team to effectively coordinate care.
***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
In most states, radiation therapists must be licensed or certified. Requirements vary by state but may include graduating from an accredited radiation therapy program and passing an exam or earning certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).
To become ARRT certified, an applicant must earn an associate’s or higher degree from an approved radiation therapy program, adhere to ARRT ethical standards, and pass the certification exam. The exam covers topics such as radiation protection, treatment planning, and patient care and education.
Many jobs also require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS) certification.
Advancement
With additional education and certification, therapists may become *medical* *dosimetrists*. Dosimetrists are responsible for calculating the correct dose of radiation that is used in the treatment of cancer patients.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Radiation TherapistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners$98,760  Radiation therapists$98,300  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 radiation therapists was $98,300 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 $72,280, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $136,910.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for radiation therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Outpatient care centers
                $123,240Hospitals; state, local, and private
                98,210Offices of physicians
                97,540Most radiation therapists work full time. They have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are usually planned in advance.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Radiation TherapistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners9%  Total, all occupations3%  Radiation therapists2%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of radiation therapists is projected to grow				 2 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 700 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
	
			
Radiotherapy plays a central role in cancer treatment, with around half of cancer patients requiring radiation at some point during their care. Because the incidence of cancer increases as people age, a rise in the number of older people is likely to increase demand for radiation therapists. However, growing adoption of more efficient radiotherapy techniques, which allow patients to finish their treatment in fewer visits, may limit employment demand.
			

                        Employment projections data for     radiation therapists, 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**Radiation therapists**
			29-1124
			15,900
			16,300
			2
			400
			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. Radiation therapists **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 radiation therapists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Dental Hygienists**
            Dental hygienists examine patients for signs of oral diseases, such as gingivitis, and provide preventive care, including oral hygiene.
            Associate's degree
            $87,530**Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians**
            Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians operate special equipment to create images or to conduct tests.
            Associate's degree
            $80,850**Medical Dosimetrists**
            Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases.
            Bachelor's degree
            $132,880**Nuclear Medicine Technologists**
            Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs for imaging or treatment.
            Associate's degree
            $92,500**Nursing Assistants and Orderlies**
            Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.
            See How to Become One
            $38,130**Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides**
            Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses.
            See How to Become One
            $58,740**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**Respiratory Therapists**
            Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, because of a chronic condition such as asthma.
            Associate's degree
            $77,960
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about radiation therapists, visit
American Society of Radiologic Technologists
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
For a list of accredited programs in radiation therapy, visit
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

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


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