Radiation therapists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $80,560 | $38.73 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $105,310 | $50.63 |
| Mean (average) | $114,990 | $55.28 |
| 90th percentile | $156,710 | $75.34 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Radiation therapists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 47 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $87,330 | $62,420 | $104,670 | 120 | 0.53 |
| Arizona | $108,760 | $83,200 | $133,360 | 410 | 1.16 |
| Arkansas | $78,950 | $62,300 | $108,910 | 80 | 0.56 |
| California | $166,450 | $130,150 | $208,100 | 1,720 | 0.86 |
| Colorado | $108,020 | $90,970 | $130,750 | 320 | 1.02 |
| Connecticut | $116,170 | $84,780 | $155,980 | 110 | 0.61 |
| District of Columbia | $100,250 | $82,780 | $132,300 | 70 | 0.96 |
| Florida | $100,920 | $80,910 | $120,770 | 1,280 | 1.17 |
| Georgia | $94,460 | $80,670 | $128,910 | 470 | 0.88 |
| Hawaii | $125,520 | $110,610 | $131,460 | ||
| Idaho | $99,660 | $81,540 | $126,590 | 100 | 1.05 |
| Illinois | $124,600 | $96,340 | $124,850 | ||
| Indiana | $96,690 | $75,750 | $113,310 | 360 | 1.04 |
| Iowa | $81,610 | $66,590 | $102,270 | 120 | 0.71 |
| Kansas | $108,830 | $85,540 | $166,680 | 240 | 1.54 |
| Kentucky | $97,760 | $56,010 | $127,470 | 170 | 0.78 |
| Louisiana | $94,710 | $76,350 | $107,430 | 230 | 1.06 |
| Maine | $101,980 | $85,060 | $142,420 | 140 | 1.96 |
| Maryland | $107,120 | $80,790 | $132,430 | 250 | 0.81 |
| Massachusetts | $106,300 | $83,160 | $133,820 | 330 | 0.83 |
| Michigan | $95,890 | $79,610 | $110,030 | 450 | 0.94 |
| Minnesota | $98,000 | $79,540 | $108,630 | 210 | 0.66 |
| Mississippi | $88,100 | $68,530 | $102,650 | 70 | 0.53 |
| Missouri | $99,890 | $70,340 | $133,190 | 420 | 1.31 |
| Montana | $105,400 | $77,220 | $135,260 | 50 | 0.97 |
| Nebraska | $98,670 | $69,620 | $142,880 | 120 | 1.07 |
| Nevada | $92,990 | $85,860 | $127,040 | 110 | 0.67 |
| New Hampshire | $106,270 | $83,310 | $123,900 | 60 | 0.74 |
| New Jersey | $129,460 | $109,650 | $160,720 | 600 | 1.28 |
| New Mexico | $100,010 | $58,700 | $128,540 | 100 | 1.06 |
| New York | $129,620 | $88,590 | $163,580 | 820 | 0.77 |
| North Carolina | $99,250 | $79,780 | $109,210 | 710 | 1.31 |
| Ohio | $98,650 | $76,640 | $123,920 | 690 | 1.13 |
| Oklahoma | $98,390 | $76,310 | $125,520 | 120 | 0.64 |
| Oregon | $131,600 | $107,870 | $159,500 | 160 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,540 | $77,390 | $122,690 | 560 | 0.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,560 | $36,470 | $53,620 | ||
| South Carolina | $100,790 | $75,510 | $119,890 | 200 | 0.77 |
| South Dakota | $97,470 | $80,140 | $138,030 | ||
| Tennessee | $83,520 | $77,730 | $101,340 | 350 | 0.98 |
| Texas | $105,770 | $88,840 | $134,320 | 1,000 | 0.65 |
| Utah | $107,660 | $92,870 | $166,660 | 70 | 0.39 |
| Vermont | $101,060 | $84,070 | $124,160 | 50 | 1.51 |
| Virginia | $103,310 | $81,380 | $134,620 | 500 | 1.1 |
| Washington | $125,880 | $98,160 | $174,670 | 540 | 1.37 |
| West Virginia | $71,590 | $54,880 | $106,140 | 120 | 1.61 |
| Wisconsin | $93,600 | $77,980 | $114,380 | 550 | 1.7 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for radiation therapists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for radiation therapists
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
- Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
- Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
- Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
- Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physician or turn equipment off if unexpected adverse reactions occur.
Technology skills
- Eclipse IDE (hot technology)
- Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Beam analysis software
- Dose unit calculation software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Image processing software
- Lifeline Software RadCalc
- Nucletron planning systems
- Patient management software
- Procedure scheduling software
- Radiation dose calculation software
- Radiation therapy equipment software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist (CT Simulation Therapist), Dosimetrist, Radiation Therapist (RT), Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT), Registered Radiation Therapist, Staff Radiation Therapist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do radiation therapists make?
The national median annual wage for radiation therapists was $105,310 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $80,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $156,710. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do radiation therapists need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is radiation therapists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of radiation therapists to change +2.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay radiation therapists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($166,450), Oregon ($131,600), New York ($129,620). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.