Beginning radiation therapists can earn comfortable wages.
Employment opportunities for radiation therapists are projected to increase by 27 percent between 2008 and 2018, a rate much higher than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those hoping to enter the field have their choice of earning a bachelor's or associate's degree or a certificate in radiation therapy. Level of education, as well as industry and location, will play a part in setting the starting salary for a radiation therapist.
Starting Salary
Radiation therapists can expect their salaries to increase as they gain experience. The overall mean annual wage for all radiation therapists in the United States is $77,340, with the bottom 10 percent earning an average of $49,980. According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the starting salary for staff radiation therapists in Alabama ranges from $50,000 to $55,000.
Industry
The type of institution a new radiation therapist seeks employment with may have an effect on his starting salary. The majority of radiation therapists work in general medical and surgical hospitals, an industry that offers an annual mean wage of $75,310. Other speciality hospitals pay a higher average salary of $86,160, while the offices of physicians employ radiation therapists at an average salary of $80,810. The highest-paying industry for this occupation is that of medical and diagnostic laboratories, which pay an annual mean wage of $90,720.
Location
As with most jobs, the area in which a radiation therapist seeks work will have an effect on his starting salary, as clinics and hospitals must consider the local cost of living and demand for that specialty. Radiation therapists in Philadelphia earn the highest average wages in the country for the position at $111,400, followed by Montgomery, Alabama, at $101,800. At $97,090, South Carolina is the top-paying state for radiation therapists, followed by Rhode Island at $90,330.
Advancement
Radiation therapists, like most who work in the medical field, have several opportunities for advancement and an increase in income. Some move on to manage radiation therapy programs, a job that puts them in a more administrative role. Other options include going into teaching or research. With more training and the proper certification, some radiation therapists go on to become dosimetrists, who are in charge of calculating the appropriate radiation doses.
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