Radiation Therapist Salary

Considering the salary of a career you plan on going into is very important. Before studying radiation therapy, you should get a good idea of the salary. Since radiation therapists have to go through a specialized training program to use radiation, their salaries are usually higher than other medical technicians. The radiation therapist must also understand how to give treatment prescribed by the oncologist.

The radiation therapist can make anywhere from $22 to $43 per hour. Overtime rates could go from $34 to $56 per hour. The yearly salary of a therapist could be from $47,000 to $85,000. Most of the radiation therapists work in hospitals, clinics, outpatient radiation therapy centers and cancer research centers. Therapists that work in the hospital usually make on the high end of the salary scale than those that work elsewhere. Radiation therapists also get job benefits such as health, dental, and vision insurance. For those that want to increase their salary, they can become a supervisor or a chief radiation therapist. A chief radiation therapist can make from $60,000 to $113,000 per year. You may also wish to branch into another field such as the radiation therapy dosimetrist. Their salary can range from $50,000 to $115,000.

The salary of a radiation therapist can vary. Some of the factors that cause the variance include location, level of training, type of program completed, type of employer, and years of experience. For the most part though, the pay for a therapist is fairly high. In order to get the highest possible salary, you should take advanced courses and training programs listed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and American Society of Radiologic Technicians. You should also work in a city that has the biggest difference between cost of living and pay. And finally, try to get a job in the hospital or cancer treatment centers as these places usually pay the most.