Healthcare · Career brief

Radiation Therapists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Radiation Therapists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$105,310

High national median pay

2025 national median. Top quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

2.8%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

700

Low national opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Bottom quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (17,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is pay; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: This is a small national occupation (17,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median…

Before choosing, compare:Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians Nuclear Medicine Technologists Radiologic Technologist

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Radiation Therapists with another field Explore rankings in Healthcare Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$105,310

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

2.8%employment growth700openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

17,400

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Radiation therapists (29-1124).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.
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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

This is a small national occupation (17,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.
The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Assisting and Caring for Others4.6
Controlling Machines and Processes4.6
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.6
Documenting/Recording Information4.6
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.5

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic5.0
Social4.8
Investigative4.6
Conventional4.5
Enterprising1.7
Artistic1.2

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Medicine and Dentistry Physics Mathematics Computers and Electronics

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Radiation therapists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options