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Hospitals and health systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, HCA Healthcare
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists position patients, program the machine, and deliver precise radiation doses to targeted areas under a doctor's treatment plan. The work is unusual because it mixes high-stakes technical accuracy with calm, reassuring patient care; there is very little room for improvisation, and the job has to be done in person.
Also known as Radiation TherapistRadiation Therapy TechnologistRadiation Oncology TechnologistTherapeutic RadiographerRadiation Oncology Therapist
Median Salary
$101,990
Mean $110,820
U.S. Workforce
~19K
0.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.9%
19.2K to 19.6K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Radiation Therapists 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 ~19K workers, with a median annual pay of $101,990 and roughly 0.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 19.2 K in 2024 to 19.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Associate's degree in radiation therapy, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Radiation Therapy Student / Clinical Trainee and can progress toward Lead Radiation Therapist / Radiation Oncology Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Radiation Therapy Linear Accelerators (Varian, Elekta & Siemens), Treatment Planning Systems (Eclipse & RayStation), and MOSAIQ, Epic & Oncology EMR Charting, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up each patient correctly and deliver the planned radiation dose to the right part of the body.
- Watch for side effects such as skin irritation or nausea and note how the patient is responding.
- Check the treatment machine before use to make sure it is working safely and accurately.
- Run routine treatment sessions on your own while following the doctor's plan for the patient's care.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up each patient correctly and deliver the planned radiation dose to the right part of the body.
02 Watch for side effects such as skin irritation or nausea and note how the patient is responding.
03 Check the treatment machine before use to make sure it is working safely and accurately.
04 Run routine treatment sessions on your own while following the doctor's plan for the patient's care.
05 Help the oncology team prepare treatment plans and adjust equipment settings based on the patient's anatomy.
06 Explain the process to patients and families, answer questions, and record treatment details in the computer.
Industries That Hire
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Cancer centers and oncology clinics
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, City of Hope
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Academic medical centers
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Stanford Health Care, University of Michigan Health
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Large outpatient health networks
Kaiser Permanente, Banner Health, Providence
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a role that typically starts with an associate's degree: the median is $101,990 and the mean is $110,820.
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You can enter the field without prior work experience and without on-the-job training, which makes the pathway relatively direct.
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The work combines hands-on technology with real patient contact, so it is more varied than a pure machine operation job.
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There are about 900 annual openings, so even with slow growth there is still regular hiring from retirements and turnover.
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The job exists in many settings, from hospitals to cancer centers to outpatient clinics, so you are not tied to one type of employer.
Challenges
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Growth is very slow at 1.9% through 2034, with only 0.4K net new jobs, so the field is not expanding much.
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The work is almost entirely on-site because both the patient and the radiation equipment have to be in the room.
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Advancement can be limited; moving up often means becoming a lead therapist, supervisor, or moving into dosimetry rather than seeing a big jump in opportunities.
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The emotional load can be heavy because you are helping people through cancer treatment and dealing with side effects day after day.
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There is constant pressure to be exact with dose settings, positioning, and machine checks because small mistakes can have serious consequences.
Career Progression
Radiation Therapy Student / Clinical Trainee
0-1 years
$45K-$60K
Learns patient setup, safety rules, and charting during supervised clinical rotations.
Radiation Therapist
1-5 years
$92K-$108K
Delivers routine treatments, checks patient reactions, and keeps detailed treatment records.
Senior Radiation Therapist THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$109K-$123K
Handles more complex cases, double-checks plans, and helps train newer therapists.
Lead Radiation Therapist / Radiation Oncology Supervisor
9-15 years
$124K-$145K
Coordinates workflow, oversees quality checks, and helps solve day-to-day problems in the treatment unit.
Education Paths
Associate's degree in radiation therapy
The most common entry point, held by 50.14% of workers in this role; programs usually combine classroom learning with supervised clinical rotations.
Bachelor's degree in radiation therapy, radiologic sciences, or a related health field
A common alternative, used by 37.54% of workers in this role, especially by people who want a broader science background or later leadership options.
Post-secondary certificate in radiation therapy
A smaller path, held by 8.87% of workers in this role, usually for people who already have healthcare training and need focused clinical preparation.
Accredited training plus ARRT certification and state licensure
Some employers will consider candidates who complete an approved program, pass the required exams, and meet state licensing rules.
Key Skills
Technical
Radiation Therapy Linear Accelerators (Varian, Elekta & Siemens) 68%
Treatment Planning Systems (Eclipse & RayStation) 66%
MOSAIQ, Epic & Oncology EMR Charting 64%
Radiation Safety, Dose Verification & QA Checks 62%
CT Simulation, Portal Imaging & Patient Positioning 60%
Machine Setup, Console Controls & Daily Calibration 58%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationService Orientation Job Outlook and Trends
+1.9%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 19.2K to 19.6 K over the next decade, representing 1.9% growth. Around 0.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.