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Hospitals and Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Medical Dosimetrists
Medical dosimetrists turn a radiation oncologist’s prescription into a detailed treatment plan that aims radiation at a tumor while protecting nearby healthy tissue. The work is unusually exacting: it blends computer planning, dose calculations, and close coordination with the care team, where small mistakes can matter a lot. Pay is strong, but the field is small and growth is only modest, so openings are limited.
Also known as DosimetristMedical DosimetristRadiation DosimetristRadiation Therapy DosimetristCertified Medical Dosimetrist
Median Salary
$138,110
Mean $141,420
U.S. Workforce
~4K
0.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.5%
4.8K to 4.9K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Medical Dosimetrists sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~4K workers, with a median annual pay of $138,110 and roughly 0.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 4.8 K in 2024 to 4.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Radiation Therapist and can progress toward Radiation Oncology Manager. High-value skills usually include Varian Eclipse Treatment Planning System, IMRT/VMAT Planning & Dose Optimization, and CT/MRI Fusion, Contouring & Localization Software, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Work with radiation oncologists and the rest of the care team to turn a treatment prescription into a plan that targets the cancer and protects nearby organs.
- Use planning software to work out the right radiation dose and shape the beam so it hits the right area from the best angles.
- Double-check dose calculations and other plan details before treatment starts so the plan matches the prescription.
- Prepare reference images, markers, and other setup information so each treatment can be delivered in the same position.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Work with radiation oncologists and the rest of the care team to turn a treatment prescription into a plan that targets the cancer and protects nearby organs.
02 Use planning software to work out the right radiation dose and shape the beam so it hits the right area from the best angles.
03 Double-check dose calculations and other plan details before treatment starts so the plan matches the prescription.
04 Prepare reference images, markers, and other setup information so each treatment can be delivered in the same position.
05 Figure out which masks, molds, or other positioning devices should be used to keep the patient still and comfortable during treatment.
06 Review tricky cases with physicists and therapists, and sometimes help test new planning methods or equipment.
Industries That Hire
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Cancer Centers
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, City of Hope
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Academic Medical Centers
Stanford Health Care, UCSF Health, Duke Health
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Outpatient Radiation Oncology Clinics
GenesisCare, American Oncology Network, Texas Oncology
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Radiation Therapy Equipment and Software
Varian, Elekta, Accuray
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for a specialized healthcare role, with a mean annual wage of $141,420 and a median of $138,110.
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You get to do precise, high-impact work that directly affects how safely and accurately cancer treatment is delivered.
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The role is highly specialized, so workers with the right training can be hard to replace.
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BLS says the occupation typically requires no work experience and no on-the-job training, which makes the path more straightforward once you have the education.
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Demand is expected to grow, with employment projected to rise from 4.8 thousand to 4.9 thousand and about 200 annual openings.
Challenges
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The field is tiny, with only about 3,970 jobs, so openings are limited and can be competitive.
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Projected growth of 3.5% over 10 years is modest, so this is not a fast-expanding occupation.
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A lot of the job is screen-based planning and verification rather than direct patient contact, which can feel repetitive for people who want bedside work.
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The work has a narrow career ladder in many places, so moving up often means switching into management or another radiation oncology specialty.
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Because the plans are so precise, a small calculation or setup mistake can have real patient safety consequences, which adds pressure every day.
Career Progression
Radiation Therapist
0-3 years
$85K-$110K
Many people enter the radiation oncology workflow here, learning patient setup, imaging, and how treatment machines are used before moving into planning work.
Medical Dosimetrist
3-8 years
$125K-$155K
You build and check radiation plans, calculate dose, and work closely with oncologists and physicists to balance tumor coverage with safety.
Senior Medical Dosimetrist THIS ROLE
8-12 years
$156K-$180K
At this stage, you handle more complex cases, review other plans, and help solve difficult planning problems.
Chief Dosimetrist
12-16 years
$181K-$210K
You oversee planning standards, mentor staff, and help manage the hardest cases and workflow across the team.
Radiation Oncology Manager
16+ years
$211K-$245K
The role shifts toward leadership, scheduling, quality control, and coordinating people and procedures across the radiation oncology service.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
The most common entry point, used by 40% of workers in this occupation.
Post-baccalaureate certificate
A common alternate route, used by 35% of workers who add specialized dosimetry training after college.
Master's degree
A less common path, used by 15% of workers, often for people who want deeper technical training or a stronger competitive edge.
Post-secondary certificate
A niche route, used by 5% of workers, usually after some prior college coursework or healthcare training.
Key Skills
Technical
Varian Eclipse Treatment Planning System 82%
IMRT/VMAT Planning & Dose Optimization 80%
CT/MRI Fusion, Contouring & Localization Software 79%
Mosaiq/ARIA Oncology Information Systems 77%
Quality Assurance & Independent Dose Verification 76%
Radiation Dose Calculations & QA Spreadsheets 70%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+3.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 4.8K to 4.9 K over the next decade, representing 3.5% growth. Around 0.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.