Career comparison
Medical Dosimetrist vs. Radiation Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Medical dosimetrists earn more at the median ($147,470 vs. $105,310), while radiation therapists usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Medical dosimetrists plan radiation doses that target cancer while protecting healthy tissue. Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatments to patients with cancer.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical Dosimetrist | Radiation Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $147,470 ($70.90/hr) | $105,310 ($50.63/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $111,670 – $185,450 | $80,560 – $156,710 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | +2.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 200 | 700 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 4–5 years | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD) | ARRT Radiation Therapy certification |
| Work setting | Dosimetrists work in hospital and clinic radiation oncology departments, and some work remotely.. | Radiation therapists work in hospitals and cancer treatment centers.. |
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
Radiation Therapist
- Position patients for treatment
- Use imaging to verify setup
- Operate linear accelerators
- Deliver prescribed radiation doses
- Monitor patients during treatment
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay and indoor work. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
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 radiation therapist if…
- I want to help cancer patients
- I’m precise
- I like technology
Still torn? Take the Medical Dosimetrist fit quiz and the Radiation Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical dosimetrist or radiation therapist?
Medical Dosimetrists earn more at the median: $147,470 versus $105,310 for radiation therapists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Radiation Therapists typically train faster (2–4 years) than medical dosimetrists (4–5 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical dosimetrists to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.8% for radiation therapists.