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The differences between radiation therapists and mammography technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a radiation therapist and a mammography technician. Additionally, a radiation therapist has an average salary of $84,981, which is higher than the $64,362 average annual salary of a mammography technician.
The top three skills for a radiation therapist include patients, patient care and radiation oncologist. The most important skills for a mammography technician are patients, ARRT, and patient care.
| Radiation Therapist | Mammography Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $84,981 | $64,362 |
| Hourly rate | $40.86 | $30.94 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 39,384 | 52,998 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A radiation therapist is a medical professional who works in hospitals or cancer treatment centers and treats cancer and other diseases in patients by giving radiation treatments. Radiation therapists are required to explain the treatment plans to patients as well as conduct x-ray tests on patients to determine the exact location of the area that requires treatment. They must examine radiation machines to ensure that they are safe and working properly. Radiation therapists must also follow safety procedures to protect patients and themselves from overexposure.
A mammography technician is primarily in charge of operating an imaging machine to detect and diagnose breast diseases. Their responsibilities include greeting patients, reviewing their identification and request documentation, explaining the extent of procedures, answering inquiries, operating machines, performing adjustments, and conducting the study in adherence to the protocols, making sure the patients feel comfortable every step of the way. Furthermore, as a mammography technician, it is essential to practice every safety technique during the procedures, all while enforcing the facility's policies and regulations.
Radiation therapists and mammography technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Radiation Therapist | Mammography Technician | |
| Average salary | $84,981 | $64,362 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $113,000 | Between $35,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Mississippi | California |
| Best paying company | Cedars-Sinai | Stability Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a radiation therapist and a mammography technician in terms of educational background:
| Radiation Therapist | Mammography Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | Duke University | Texas A&M University |
Here are the differences between radiation therapists' and mammography technicians' demographics:
| Radiation Therapist | Mammography Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 3.6% Female, 96.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 8.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.5% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 17% | 8% |