Radiation Therapists Salary
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 17K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$105,310
Median hourly
$51
Average annual
$114,990
Typical range
$80,560–$156,710
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Radiation Therapists is $105,310 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $51 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $80,560 and $156,710 a year. There are roughly 17K people employed as radiation therapists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Radiation Therapists.
- Hourly
- $50.63
- Daily
- $405
- Weekly
- $2,025
- Bi-weekly
- $4,050
- Monthly
- $8,776
- Annual
- $105,310
$105,310 a year is around the 50th percentile for Radiation Therapistss. The median is $105,310.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$166,450
- 2Oregon$131,600
- 3New York$129,620
- 4New Jersey$129,460
- 5Washington$125,880
- 6Hawaii$125,520
- 7Illinois$124,600
- 8Connecticut$116,170
- 9Kansas$108,830
- 10Arizona$108,760
- 11Colorado$108,020
- 12Utah$107,660
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$206,350
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$205,670
- 3Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$182,240
- 4San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$171,500
- 5Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$169,150
- 6New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$135,550
- 7Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$133,410
- 8Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$130,800
- 9Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$128,650
- 10Urban Honolulu, HI$125,520
- 11Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$124,850
- 12Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$119,960
Related job titles
Employers advertise Radiation Therapists roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Medical Dosimetrists$147,470
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$74,310
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,110
- Respiratory Therapists$82,280
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists$101,370
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,590
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$95,480
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$50,290
What a Radiation Therapists does
- 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.
- 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.
- Check radiation therapy equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Educate, prepare, and reassure patients and their families by answering questions, providing physical assistance, and reinforcing physicians' advice regarding treatment reactions or post-treatment care.
- Check for side effects, such as skin irritation, nausea, or hair loss to assess patients' reaction to treatment.
- Prepare or construct equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, or protection devices.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Radiation Therapists make?
- The median annual wage for Radiation Therapists is $105,310 ($51 per hour). Pay ranges from about $80,560 at the 10th percentile to $156,710 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Radiation Therapists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $114,990, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Radiation Therapistss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $166,450.
- Is Radiation Therapists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 17K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Radiation Therapists 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.; Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician..