Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a radiation therapist and how to become one
A radiation therapist works with cancer patients to administer treatments. They use ionizing radiation to target cancer cells and reduce their ability to replicate. Radiation therapists work under the guidance of a radiation oncologist to administer radiation treatments, including CT scans and MRIs. They also monitor patients' reactions and document progress. They educate patients about treatment plans, outcomes, and potential side effects. Radiation therapists need to understand medical terminology, radiation physics, and patient care techniques.
What general advice would you give to a radiation therapist?
Ron Precht
Senior Manager, American Massage Therapy Association
Avg. Salary $84,981
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 4.50%
Black or African American 6.63%
Hispanic or Latino 9.75%
Unknown 8.77%
White 69.69%
Genderfemale 65.73%
male 34.27%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a radiation therapist?
Pros
Good salary and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement
Constant learning and professional development
Work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and research facilities
Flexible scheduling options
Cons
Long hours, including nights and weekends
Physically demanding work, including standing for long periods of time
Risk of burnout due to the emotional demands of the job
Dealing with insurance companies and financial issues can be challenging
Continuing educational requirements can be time-consuming and expensive
Radiation therapist career paths
Key steps to become a radiation therapist
Explore radiation therapist education requirements
Start to develop specific radiation therapist skills
Skills Percentages Patients 27.99% Patient Care 8.98% Radiation Oncologist 8.43% Patient Treatment 5.54% Dosimetry 3.66% Complete relevant radiation therapist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New radiation therapists 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 radiation therapist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real radiation therapist resumes.Gain additional radiation therapist certifications
More About CertificationsRadiation therapist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific radiation therapist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for radiation therapists include Radiation Therapy and Certification of Radiation Oncology.
Research radiation therapist duties and responsibilities
- Manage all payroll, accounts receivable and payable, and maintain complete records of equipment and staff.
- Manage daily clinical staffing needs by appropriately deploying PRN therapist when need, which save company from employing an additional FTE.
- Perform SBRT and SRS, and IMRT treatments under the supervision of the physician.
- Set up patients on treatment machine, port films and IGRT to line up patients.
Prepare your radiation therapist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your radiation therapist 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 radiation therapist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable radiation therapist resume templates
Build a professional radiation therapist 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 radiation therapist resume.
Apply for radiation therapist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a radiation therapist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first radiation therapist job
Are you a radiation therapist?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average radiation therapist salary
The average radiation therapist salary in the United States is $84,981 per year or $41 per hour. Radiation therapist salaries range between $63,000 and $113,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do radiation therapists rate their job?
Radiation therapist FAQs
Search for radiation therapist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
