What does a health physicist do?
A health physicist investigates research principles by which radiation interacts with living systems and matter. Health physicists study environmental radioactivity levels. Part of their research is radiation's effects on biological systems in space and on earth. They ensure the proper functioning of the x-ray and the storage of radiation therapy. Part of their responsibility is to make sure that scientists are following regulations and safely using their radioactive materials. Also, they are advocates of human and environmental protection.
Health physicist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real health physicist resumes:
- Manage the work and flow through the plant and department with regard to NDT.
- Ensure local site regulatory compliance by providing RSO oversight.
- Interpret and apply NRC and EPA regulations pertinent to each assignment.
- Review verification data for compliance with EPA cleanup standards.
- Perform all functions of outage health physics job coverage.
- Monitor and assist RCA exit portal area as needed.
- Prepare manufacturing, QC and engineering for the FDA pre-license inspection.
- Serve as EPA national expert and advisor for radioactive site cleanup and remediation projects.
- Construct and issue ring and wrist dosimeters at the FEMP on a monthly exposure schedule.
- Task with the resolution and administration of outstanding EHS, QA, and training activities.
- Lead the EHS program development and implementation for all California locations and some eastern states.
- Coordinate with LANL POC and subcontractors to ensure compliance with 10 CFR 835 and site-specific directives.
- Perform QC, source checks and calibration of radiation detection instrumentation and GPS instruments and software.
- Escort rad workers and rad material from remote RCA through non-RCA and back into main RCA.
- Participate in GammaKnife QA, head frame stabilization, MRI simulation, treatment planning and treatment.
Health physicist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Health Physicists are proficient in Radioactive Materials, Oversight, and ALARA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Math skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Health Physicists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Radioactive Materials, 9%
Conduct inspections and surveys of facilities using radioactive materials for medical, industrial and educational purposes.
- Oversight, 9%
Provide corporate oversight of radiation protection program through on-site assessments for over 35 PET pharmacies located in the US.
- ALARA, 7%
Projected radiation exposures for outage and operating plant work and implemented the technical aspects of the ALARA program.
- Radiation Safety, 7%
Develop and administer radiation safety training to shipyard activities that use radiation for industrial radiography and other industrial radiation safety applications.
- Emergency Response, 5%
Investigated accidents and incidents across campus and provided emergency responses as needed.
- NRC, 3%
Interpreted Nuclear Regulatory commission (NRC) regulations to ensure plant compliance.
Common skills that a health physicist uses to do their job include "radioactive materials," "oversight," and "alara." You can find details on the most important health physicist responsibilities below.
Math skills. Another essential skill to perform health physicist duties is math skills. Health physicists responsibilities require that "physicists and astronomers do calculations involving calculus, geometry, algebra, and other areas of math." Health physicists also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "measure and read x-ray films, and apply mathematical calculations. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for health physicists to perform their duties. For an example of how health physicist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "physicists and astronomers use scientific observation and analysis, as well as creative thinking, to solve problems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a health physicist: "perform radiological surveys in compliance with energysolutions and llnl site procedures. ".
Communication skills. health physicist responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "physicists and astronomers present their research at conferences, to the public, and to others." This resume example shows what health physicists do with communication skills on a typical day: "managed hazardous materials operations plan and permit, hazardous communication program and hazardous emergency response requirements. "
The three companies that hire the most health physicists are:
- American Electric Power82 health physicists jobs
- Sandia National Labs6 health physicists jobs
- Los Alamos National Laboratory4 health physicists jobs
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Compare different health physicists
Health physicist vs. Assistant research scientist
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between health physicists and assistant research scientist. For instance, health physicist responsibilities require skills such as "radioactive materials," "oversight," "alara," and "radiation safety." Whereas a assistant research scientist is skilled in "research projects," "data collection," "data analysis," and "lab equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Assistant research scientists earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $71,080. On the other hand, health physicists are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $101,563.On average, assistant research scientists reach similar levels of education than health physicists. Assistant research scientists are 4.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 13.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Health physicist vs. Research fellow
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that health physicist responsibilities requires skills like "radioactive materials," "oversight," "alara," and "radiation safety." But a research fellow might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "research projects," "data analysis," and "cell culture."
Research fellows may earn a lower salary than health physicists, but research fellows earn the most pay in the non profits industry with an average salary of $57,261. On the other hand, health physicists receive higher pay in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $101,563.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Research fellows tend to reach similar levels of education than health physicists. In fact, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 13.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Health physicist vs. Research and development assistant
A research and development assistant is responsible for supporting the research team in collecting studies and information to support research claims and evaluate data materials. Research and development assistants interview participants, conduct data and statistical analysis, and interpret survey results. They ensure to document all findings and research progress and report any concerns to the research supervisor for immediate resolution. A research and development assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in participating in brainstorming sessions and finalize research subjects as required.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, health physicists are more likely to have skills like "radioactive materials," "oversight," "alara," and "radiation safety." But a research and development assistant is more likely to have skills like "lab equipment," "data entry," "laboratory equipment," and "data collection."
Research and development assistants make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $71,587. On the other hand, health physicists are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $101,563.research and development assistants typically earn lower educational levels compared to health physicists. Specifically, they're 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Health physicist vs. Research laboratory technician
Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between health physicists and research laboratory technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a health physicist might have more use for skills like "radioactive materials," "oversight," "alara," and "radiation safety." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of research laboratory technicians require skills like "patients," "chemistry," "laboratory equipment," and "cell culture. "
The manufacturing industry tends to pay the highest salaries for research laboratory technicians, with average annual pay of $42,600. Comparatively, the highest health physicist annual salary comes from the energy industry.research laboratory technicians reach lower levels of education compared to health physicists, in general. The difference is that they're 10.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of health physicist
Updated January 8, 2025
