Dietetic Technicians vs Radiation Therapists: $38K vs $105K Median Pay

Dietetic Technicians vs Radiation Therapists: what changes?

Consider Dietetic Technicians if you want to assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. Consider Radiation Therapists if you would rather provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Both list associate's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Dietetic Technicians and Radiation Therapists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Dietetic Technicians

National median pay (2025): $37,640
Route into the job: Associate's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,200

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Dietetic Technicians brief

Radiation Therapists

National median pay (2025): $105,310
Route into the job: Associate's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 700

Know before you choose

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

See the full Radiation Therapists brief

How the national numbers differ

Radiation Therapists has the edge on median pay

Radiation Therapists is at $105,310, compared with $37,640 for Dietetic Technicians.

Dietetic Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Dietetic Technicians is at 4,200 annual openings, compared with 700 annual openings for Radiation Therapists.

Radiation Therapists has the edge on projected growth

Radiation Therapists is at 2.8% projected growth, compared with 2.7% projected growth for Dietetic Technicians.

36.4/ 100

Dietetic Technicians

49.4/ 100

Radiation Therapists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Dietetic Technicians vs Radiation Therapists

Dimension	Dietetic Technicians	Radiation Therapists
Median pay (2025)	$37,640	$105,310
Pay percentile	7.6 percentile	86 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.7%	2.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	4,200	700
2025 employment	32,100	17,400
How you qualify	Associate's degree	Associate's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Dietetic Technicians brief Read Radiation Therapists brief

Dietetic Technicians vs Radiation Therapists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Dietetic Technicians

Radiation Therapists

How the national numbers differ

Radiation Therapists has the edge on median pay

Dietetic Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Radiation Therapists has the edge on projected growth

Dietetic Technicians vs Radiation Therapists

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