Radiation Therapists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1124 · O*NET 29-1124.00
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Radiation Therapists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Radiation Therapists earn a median salary of $101,990 per year, ranking in the top 12% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +1.9% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do radiation therapists earn?
The median annual wage for radiation therapists is $101,990. That puts radiation therapists at #95 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $77,860 |
| 25th percentile | $86,520 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $101,990 |
| 75th percentile | $120,360 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,550 |
| Median hourly wage | $49.03/hr |
Is radiation therapists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for radiation therapists is +1.9%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 19K positions in 2024 to 19K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do radiation therapists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working radiation therapists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- 2.Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
- 3.Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
- 4.Help physicians, radiation oncologists, or clinical physicists to prepare physical or technical aspects of radiation treatment plans, using information about patient condition and anatomy.
- 5.Train or supervise student or subordinate radiotherapy technologists.
- 6.Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
- 7.Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session.
- 8.Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
Top skills for radiation therapists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become radiation therapist?
Becoming a radiation therapist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Licensing requirements for radiation therapists
Radiation Therapists are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about radiation therapists
What is the median salary for radiation therapists?
The median annual salary for radiation therapists is $101,990 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is radiation therapists a growing career?
BLS projects +1.9% growth for radiation therapists from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become radiation therapist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to radiation therapists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.