How To Become A Dosimetrist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a dosimetrist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A dosimetrist works in radiation oncology to calculate the precise radiation dose needed to treat a patient's cancer. They collaborate with radiation oncologists and medical physicists to develop treatment plans that minimize exposure to healthy tissues while maximizing the effectiveness of treatment. Dosimetrists use computer software to model radiation doses and create treatment plans. This specialized profession requires a strong understanding of radiation physics, anatomy, and medical terminology, as well as problem-solving and communication.

ScoreDosimetristUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $110,837

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.9

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 6.43%

Black or African American 5.83%

Hispanic or Latino 9.19%

Unknown 8.68%

White 69.22%

Gender

female 51.52%

male 48.48%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a dosimetrist?

Pros

High demand for dosimetrists in the healthcare industry
Opportunities for career growth and advancement
Competitive salary and benefits packages
Ability to work in different settings, including hospitals, clinics, and research facilities
Flexibility in work schedule and location

Cons

High stress and pressure to ensure accuracy in radiation doses
Long hours and irregular schedules, including on-call duty
Limited opportunities for creativity or autonomy in decision-making
Limited public awareness and recognition of the profession
Potential for burnout due to the high demands of the job

Key steps to become a dosimetrist

Explore dosimetrist education requirements

Most common dosimetrist degrees

Bachelor's

53.8 %

Associate

23.1 %

Certificate

11.5 %

Start to develop specific dosimetrist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	24.16%
Radiation Therapy	9.77%
Patient Care	8.79%
PET	5.95%
IMRT	4.28%

Complete relevant dosimetrist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New dosimetrists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a dosimetrist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real dosimetrist resumes.

Research dosimetrist duties and responsibilities

Manage flow and daily operation of the treatment linac.
Focuse on developing radiation therapy treatment plans for cancer patients.
Train in Brainlab's iPlan; using it for SBRT with the VERO SBRT Linac.
Single dose and full dose TBI calculation.

Prepare your dosimetrist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your dosimetrist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a dosimetrist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable dosimetrist resume templates

Build a professional dosimetrist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your dosimetrist resume.