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Nuclear Medicine Technologists vs Radiation Therapists: what changes?

Consider Nuclear Medicine Technologists if you want to prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. 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 Nuclear Medicine Technologists 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
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

National median pay (2025)
$101,370
Route into the job
An associate degree in nuclear medicine technology is typical. Some certificate routes build on an existing healthcare qualification. Check clinical training, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements.
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.
Physical work
Standing and helping patients move are common. Handling radioactive materials requires protective procedures and exposure monitoring.
Schedule and hours
Most work full time. Some settings require evenings, weekends, or on-call coverage.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
800
Know before you choose

Check admission and certification requirements before assuming a certificate is a route straight from high school; some routes build on an existing healthcare qualification.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 16, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

See the full Nuclear Medicine Technologists 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
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Nuclear Medicine Technologists has the edge on projected growth

Nuclear Medicine Technologists is at 4.4% projected growth, compared with 2.8% projected growth for Radiation Therapists.

2

Radiation Therapists has the edge on median pay

Radiation Therapists is at $105,310, compared with $101,370 for Nuclear Medicine Technologists.

3

Nuclear Medicine Technologists has the edge on annual openings

Nuclear Medicine Technologists is at 800 annual openings, compared with 700 annual openings for Radiation Therapists.

53.4/ 100

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

vs
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

Nuclear Medicine Technologists vs Radiation Therapists

DimensionNuclear Medicine TechnologistsRadiation Therapists
Median pay (2025)$101,370$105,310
Pay percentile83.6 percentile86 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)4.4%2.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)800700
2025 employment17,40017,400
How you qualifyAn associate degree in nuclear medicine technology is typical. Some certificate routes build on an existing healthcare qualification. Check clinical training, certification eligibility, and state licensing requirements.Associate's degree
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 3
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS 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.
SchedulesMost work full time. Some settings require evenings, weekends, or on-call coverage.Varies by employer and setting; ask about shifts, overtime, on-call work, and predictable hours.
Physical workStanding and helping patients move are common. Handling radioactive materials requires protective procedures and exposure monitoring.Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

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

Read Nuclear Medicine Technologists briefRead Radiation Therapists brief

Try another comparison

Nuclear Medicine Technologists vs Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists
$101,370 · 4.4% growth
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
$96,590 · 13.9% growth
Compare careers →

Radiation Therapists vs Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Radiation Therapists
$105,310 · 2.8% growth
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
$74,310 · 3.7% growth
Compare careers →
ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.