Career comparison
Medical Dosimetrist vs. Physicist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physicists earn more at the median ($172,250 vs. $147,470), while medical dosimetrists usually get to work faster (4–5 years of training). Medical dosimetrists plan radiation doses that target cancer while protecting healthy tissue. Physicists study matter, energy and forces to discover how the universe works.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical Dosimetrist | Physicist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $147,470 ($70.90/hr) | $172,250 ($82.81/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $111,670 – $185,450 | $82,110 – $274,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | +7.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 200 | 1,300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4–5 years | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD) | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Dosimetrists work in hospital and clinic radiation oncology departments, and some work remotely.. | Physicists work in labs and offices at national labs, universities and companies.. |
What each job does
Medical Dosimetrist
- Contour targets and organs on images
- Design radiation treatment plans
- Calculate radiation doses
- Optimize beam arrangements
- Check plans for accuracy
Physicist
- Design experiments
- Build models
- Analyze data
- Develop technology
- Write papers
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, working with information, problem-solving, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, healthcare and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and curiosity.
Which should you choose?
Choose medical dosimetrist if…
- I like physics and anatomy
- I enjoy precise computer work
- I want to support cancer care
Choose physicist if…
- I love physics
- I like math
- I like experiments
Still torn? Take the Medical Dosimetrist fit quiz and the Physicist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical dosimetrist or physicist?
Physicists earn more at the median: $172,250 versus $147,470 for medical dosimetrists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Medical Dosimetrists typically train faster (4–5 years) than physicists (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physicists to grow +7.2% from 2025–35, compared with +5.0% for medical dosimetrists.