Radiation therapists
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Radiation therapists provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. The role reports a median annual salary of $101,990 in the US and is showing modest growth of 2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.33 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include hygiene in a health care setting, pharmaceutical products, health care legislation, medical terminology, health care occupation-specific ethics.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £48,439 a year for Medical radiographers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £39,854 to £54,805 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2254). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Radiation therapists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification Bachelor of Radiation Therapy Technology (B.RTT), 4 years after Class 12[1]
- 2 · Registration Enrolment on the allied and healthcare professionals register under the NCAHP Act[2]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Therapy and Counseling
What you'd actually do
- Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
- Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
- Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
- Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Radiation therapists do?
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
How much does Radiation therapists earn?
The median annual salary for Radiation therapists in the US is $101,990.
What is the job outlook for Radiation therapists?
The role is showing modest growth of 2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 19,200 workers.
How do I become radiation therapists?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Radiation therapists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include hygiene in a health care setting, pharmaceutical products, health care legislation, medical terminology, health care occupation-specific ethics, side effects of radiotherapy treatment. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Radiation therapists?
Our AI-durability model gives Radiation therapists a score of 0.33 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Radiation therapists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.