Radiation Therapists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Reviews the prescription, diagnosis, and patient ID, then positions the person exactly as planned and delivers the prescribed dose with therapy equipment. Most sessions are run independently under a physician's long-term plan: entering data, setting controls, checking that the machine is working, and following radiation-protection rules for everyone in the room. Patients are watched throughout; unusual reactions are reported or the machine is shut off. Records and files are kept current. A match for those who prefer precise, repeatable procedures, careful equipment checks, and brief, tightly controlled patient sessions.
Typical education: Associate’s Degree (2-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$105'310
Median Wage Market Position
$105'310
What you might do
- Position patients accurately for prescribed treatment
- Deliver prescribed radiation doses to targeted areas
- Follow radiation protection rules for everyone nearby
- Review the prescription, diagnosis, and patient identification
- Enter data and set equipment dose controls
- Watch patients during treatment and report reactions
Skills that matter
- Positioning patients to match the prescription
- Setting radiation equipment and dosage
- Checking machines before treatment starts
- Reading charts, diagnoses, and identification
- Reassuring patients during treatment sessions
- Reporting unusual reactions to physicians
AI & the future of this role
Delivering prescribed radiation requires hands-on machine setup, patient positioning, and safety checks that automation is unlikely to own soon. Charting and planning aids may streamline paperwork, yet licensed clinical judgment and in-person trust still anchor the role.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details