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The differences between radio technicians and radiation therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a radio technician, becoming a radiation therapist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a radiation therapist has an average salary of $84,981, which is higher than the $39,253 average annual salary of a radio technician.
The top three skills for a radio technician include RF, test equipment and electronic equipment. The most important skills for a radiation therapist are patients, patient care, and radiation oncologist.
| Radio Technician | Radiation Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,253 | $84,981 |
| Hourly rate | $18.87 | $40.86 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 27,419 | 39,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Radiation therapy technicians are responsible for the administration of targeted radiation treatments to patients. They interact with patients on a regular basis and may combine physical tests with other therapy techniques. It will demand the skills of interpersonal communication, a background in radiology, a detail-oriented personality, and various technical skills.
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.
Radio technicians and radiation therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Radio Technician | Radiation Therapist | |
| Average salary | $39,253 | $84,981 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $51,000 | Between $63,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Mississippi |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Cedars-Sinai |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a radio technician and a radiation therapist in terms of educational background:
| Radio Technician | Radiation Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between radio technicians' and radiation therapists' demographics:
| Radio Technician | Radiation Therapist | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 17% |