Radiation Therapists Salary
The median radiation therapists salary in the United States is $105,310 per year ($50.63/hour). Salaries range from $80,560 at the entry level to $156,710+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 17,070 radiation therapists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Radiation Therapists Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for radiation therapistss.
Radiation Therapists administer radiation therapy treatments to cancer patients under the direction of radiation oncologists. Career splits: hospital cancer centers (largest employer β academic + community hospitals), outpatient radiation oncology practices, proton therapy centers (specialized + growing), advanced procedure specialists (stereotactic radiosurgery, brachytherapy). Path: bachelor's degree + ARRT certification in Radiation Therapy (RT). Alternative: 1-year post-associate certification for RT (ARRT) after being a radiographer. Career progression: staff therapist β senior therapist β chief therapist / dosimetrist path. Median compensation: entry $75-95k; mid-career $95-130k; senior + specialty $115-155k; chief therapist $140-180k+; dosimetrist path $130-200k+. High-cost cities + specialized centers pay significantly more.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Radiation Therapists
- 1High school diploma + prerequisites (biology, math, chemistry, physics)Strong science foundation required.
- 2Bachelor's in Radiation Therapy (4 years) OR Associate's + 1-year post-associate certificateBachelor's-level programs increasingly required. ~120 programs accredited by JRCERT.
- 3Clinical rotations (embedded in program)800+ hours clinical training during program. Rotations at multiple radiation oncology centers.
- 4ARRT Certification in Radiation Therapy (RT)American Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification. Required for practice.
- 5State licensure (in states requiring)Most states require state license. Some allow ARRT-only. $50-300 state application + fees.
- 6First job (hospital, cancer center, or private practice)Cancer centers largest employer. Hospital + Community Cancer Program + Academic Medical Centers hiring.
- 7Advanced modality training + specialty certificationsVendor + specialty training (Varian, Elekta, TrueBeam SRS + SBRT, MR-Linac). Higher pay + roles.
- 8Optional: Medical Dosimetry pathwayAdditional 12-24 month training + Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) certification. Higher pay ceiling.
Career Progression
- β’Daily treatment delivery
- β’Simulation + verification
- β’Learning specialty modalities
- β’Advanced modalities (IMRT, VMAT)
- β’Preceptor role for new staff
- β’Simulation + verification lead
- β’Complex treatments (SRS, SBRT, brachytherapy)
- β’Team lead + training
- β’Physicist + oncologist coordination
- β’Department management (chief)
- β’Treatment planning (dosimetrist)
- β’QA + quality improvement
- β’Multi-center operations
- β’Strategic + operational leadership
- β’Budget + staffing
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 11 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your radiation therapy experience.situational
Q2. How do you handle a patient in distress during treatment?situational
Q3. Tell me about an error you observed or made.behavioral
Q4. Why our center?culture
Q5. How do you handle radiation safety?technical
Resume Template β Experienced Therapist (3-5 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈRadiation Therapist, [Cancer Center], operating Varian TrueBeam LINAC + serving 45-60 patients daily.
- βΈARRT (RT) certified + specialty training in IMRT + VMAT + SBRT + SRS.
- βΈZero treatment errors + zero patient safety events in past 24 months.
- βΈPreceptor for 3 new-grad therapists in past year. All achieved competency on schedule.
What Gets You Rejected
- βMissing ARRT certification.
- βPoor patient communication or empathy.
- βWeak understanding of radiation safety + ALARA.
- βBad-mouthing prior center or oncologists.
- βMissing continuing education.
- βWeak team communication.
- βHistory of treatment errors or near-misses without disclosure.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βHourly rate + shift differential.
- βSpecialty certifications = pay premium (SRS, SBRT, Proton, Brachytherapy).
- βSign-on bonus $5-25k in high-demand areas.
- βFull benefits + retirement match.
- βTuition reimbursement for Bachelor's or Dosimetrist certification.
- βContinuing education budget.
- βPTO (4-5 weeks).
- βUnion representation (some hospitals).
- βOvertime + weekend differential.
- βCareer path to chief + dosimetrist.
Radiation Therapists Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired radiation therapistss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Radiation Therapists Career Kit β $19
- β All 11 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Radiation Therapists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $166,450 | +58.1% |
| Oregon | $131,600 | +25.0% |
| New York | $129,620 | +23.1% |
| New Jersey | $129,460 | +22.9% |
| Washington | $125,880 | +19.5% |
| Hawaii | $125,520 | +19.2% |
| Illinois | $124,600 | +18.3% |
| Connecticut | $116,170 | +10.3% |
| Kansas | $108,830 | +3.3% |
| Arizona | $108,760 | +3.3% |
Radiation Therapists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $206,350 | +95.9% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $205,670 | +95.3% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $182,240 | +73.1% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $171,500 | +62.9% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $169,150 | +60.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,550 | +28.7% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,410 | +26.7% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $130,800 | +24.2% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,650 | +22.2% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $125,520 | +19.2% |