Radiation therapist’s salary is generally determined by various factors such as level of experience, geographic location, accredited radiation therapy program, advanced certification, and employment setting. According to the BLS salary reports, the median salary for a radiation therapist is around $76,630 per annum. The annual salary for the top 10% of radiation therapists is more than $112,540, while the lowest 10% of them earned less than $51,210 per year. The BLS reports based on the type of work setting include: $78,230 per annum as paid by the outpatient care centers; $83,430 per year as paid by the Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Hospitals offered $76,900; Offices of Physicians offered $82,440 per annum; and Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories offered $91,730 per annum. Keep reading for more information about radiation therapist salary.
Radiation therapist job description
Radiation therapists are the professionals who administer radiation treatment to the patients and they work as a part of cancer radiation therapy team. They perform radiation treatment for cancer patients. The main job of radiation therapists is to determine the ideal doses of radiation depending on the type of cancer; to minimize the hazardous effects of radiation by maintaining safety level; and to increase the efficacy of the treatment. A radiation therapist usually works in an oncology team and assists oncology specialists by treating patients with prescribed radiation dose based on the level of tumor involvement. Their duty is to develop and administer an appropriate dose of radiation treatment for cancer patients. Radiation is often deemed the best course of treatment for those suffering from life threatening diseases, particularly cancer. Radiation therapists usually adjust the position or focus the radiation equipment called as linear accelerator, which administers radiation treatment by emitting high-energy x-rays.
How much does a Radiation therapist make ?
Average radiation therapist salary
Average expected wage and annual salary for a radiation therapist in the United States is around $36.84 per hour and $74,980 per annum.
Radiation therapist salary in USA
An average radiation therapist receives an hourly wage ranging from between $23.35 – $39.32 per hour which can gradually increase to about $34.49 – $60.06 overtime. In addition, a yearly bonus of around $2,067 will be credited to his or her account. An average profit sharing is estimated to be around $1,474 – $3,017 per year. In general, a radiation therapist in the US receives his or her total earnings ranging from between $46,576 – $84,558 per annum.
The starting salary for a radiation therapist is about $51,210 per annum, while an average radiation therapist receives an annual salary of about $62,540 per year. In addition, a well-established radiation therapist receives a much higher salary of about $94,080 per annum. An hourly wage for a radiation therapist ranges from between $24.62 – $54.10 per hour.
Based on years of work experience according to BLS reports, an average yearly salary for a radiation therapist is as follows: One with less than 1 year of work experience earns from $29,717 – $70,469 per annum; one with 1 to 4 years receives from $39,933 – $81,051; one with 5 to 9 years receives from $50,678 – $89,571 per year; one with 10 to 19 years earns from $53,812 – $97,890 per annum; and one with 20+ years of experience receives between $50,335 – $103,302 per annum.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for a radiation therapist ranges from between $30.07-$36.84 per hour. The radiation therapist received a starting hourly wage ranging from between $24.62 – $30.07 per hour while the top earning radiation therapist received an attractive hourly wage ranging from between $45.23-$54.1 per hour.
According to percentile statistics, the median salary for 90th percentile of radiation therapists has been around $112,540 per year. Similarly, about 75th percentile of radiation therapists received $94,080, 50th percentile of them received around $76,630, and 25th percentile of them received $62,540, while 10th percentile received $51,210 per year.
Some of the best paying states for the radiation therapists in the United States include: South Carolina $97,090; Washington: $97,930; Okla: $101,670, California: $96,050; Philadelphia: $111,400; Chicago: $76,025; Washington, $52,550; and New York $69,347.
Radiation therapist salary in Canada
An average starting hourly wage for a radiation therapist in Canada is around C$19.55 per hour that gradually increases by up to C$35.72 overtime. The average total salary for a radiation therapist in Canada ranges from between C$39,149 – C$92,376 per annum. Overall, an average yearly salary for a median radiation therapist ranges from between C$38,783 – C$94,272.
Radiation therapist salary in UK
According to all salary survey, the average expected salary for a radiation therapist in the United Kingdom is about £46,138 per year, while a median salary is around £35,000 per annum. An average hourly wage for a radiation therapist is around £23.07 per hour. A radiation therapist’s salary varies based on his or her age as the one in 20s earns up to £34,604, in 30s earns about £45,216, in 40s and in 50s earns about £53,521 per annum.
Radiation therapist salary in Australia
The starting annual salary for an average radiation therapist in Australia ranges from between AU$36,524 – AU$90,699 per year. An average annual bonus of around AU$5,106 will be included as part of the annual salary package and the total annual salary ranges from between AU$38,783 – AU$93,154 per year.
Radiation therapist education, training and certification
To become a radiation therapist, one should complete an entry-level education (high school diploma or GED or its equivalent) and complete a degree in radiation therapy. One can complete either a four-year bachelor’s degree in radiography or a two-year associate’s degree in radiation therapy from an accredited school. One can also complete a degree in radiological imaging before pursuing a certificate program in radiation therapy that lasts for a year. The program curriculum can include both scientific theory classes and practical radiation therapy procedures. The state certification can be obtained by passing a state exam after obtaining a voluntary certificate in radiation therapy from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Read more about How to become a radiation therapist.
Conclusion about radiation therapist salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean salary earned by a radiation therapist is around $74,980 per annum. The lowest paid 10 percent of radiation therapists earned less than $50,950 per year, whereas the top 10 percent of them received more than $110,550 per year.