How to Become a Radiation Therapist
Administer the precise radiation treatments prescribed for cancer patients while guiding them through the course of therapy. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $105,310 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$105,310/yr
Middle half
$92,060 to $126,340
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Radiation Treatment Delivery
- Patient Care
- Monitoring
- Attention to Detail
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- ARRT(T) (Radiation Therapy certification)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
77/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Radiation Therapist make?
The median pay for a Radiation Therapist is $105,310 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $92,060 and $126,340 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Radiation Therapist?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Radiation Therapy, Radiologic Sciences, and Health Sciences.
Is Radiation Therapist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Radiation Therapist use most?
Common skills for this role are Radiation Treatment Delivery, Patient Care, Monitoring, Attention to Detail, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).