Career comparison
Nuclear Medicine Technologist vs. Radiation Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Radiation therapists earn more at the median ($105,310 vs. $101,370), while nuclear medicine technologists usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Nuclear medicine technologists use radioactive tracers to image the body and help treat disease. Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatments to patients with cancer.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Radiation Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $101,370 ($48.74/hr) | $105,310 ($50.63/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $78,080 – $134,500 | $80,560 – $156,710 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.4% (about as fast as average) | +2.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 700 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | CNMT (NMTCB) | ARRT Radiation Therapy certification |
| Work setting | Technologists work in hospitals and imaging centers.. | Radiation therapists work in hospitals and cancer treatment centers.. |
What each job does
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Prepare radioactive drugs
- Give tracers to patients
- Operate gamma cameras and PET scanners
- Position patients for imaging
- Follow radiation safety rules
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 hands-on work, high-pay, indoor work, and steady routines. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose nuclear medicine technologist if…
- I like science and technology
- I follow safety rules carefully
- I want a high-paying two-year career
Choose radiation therapist if…
- I want to help cancer patients
- I’m precise
- I like technology
Still torn? Take the Nuclear Medicine Technologist fit quiz and the Radiation Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, nuclear medicine technologist or radiation therapist?
Radiation Therapists earn more at the median: $105,310 versus $101,370 for nuclear medicine technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Nuclear Medicine Technologists typically train faster (2–4 years) than radiation therapists (2–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects nuclear medicine technologists to grow +4.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.8% for radiation therapists.